WALES

Departmental Postal Services

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which companies are under contract to his Department to provide mail services; and when each such contract expires.

Peter Hain: The Wales Office has mail service contracts with Royal Mail and Government Car and Despatch Agency.

Departmental Visits Abroad

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department spent on overnight accommodation for  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials while overseas in each of the last three years.

Peter Hain: My Department has spent the following on overnight accommodation while overseas in each of the last three years:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Ministers  Officials 
			 2006-07 0 0 
			 2007-08 83.86 899.72 
			 2008-09 0 0

NORTHERN IRELAND

Cannabis

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people of each nationality have been charged with cultivating cannabis in Northern Ireland in each of the last 24 months.

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cannabis factories have been discovered in Northern Ireland in each of the last 24 months.

Paul Goggins: These are operational matters for the Chief Constable. I have asked him to reply to the hon. Member directly, and I will arrange for a copies of the letters to be placed in the Library of the House.

Criminal Damage Compensation Scheme

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 19 October 2009,  Official Report, columns 1215-16W, on Criminal Damages Compensation 1997, how many applications under the Criminal Damages (Compensation) (Northern Ireland) 1977 Order were received from the Gaelic Athletic Association in each of the last five years.

Paul Goggins: The information is as follows.
	
		
			  The Gaelic Athletic Association 
			   Number 
			 2004-05 2 
			 2005-06 0 
			 2006-07 0 
			 2007-08 0 
			 2008-09 7 
			 2009-10 to date 2 
			 Total 11 
		
	
	It is possible that there are other claims relating to GAA property within the Compensation Agency's records which could not be identified and which are not included in the above table.
	In cases relating to GAA property claims are usually submitted in the name of trustees who are the legal owners of the property which has been damaged. The trustees' name does not always make reference to the GAA and the Compensation Agency's computer database does not therefore identify these as GAA claims. Since 2008-09 the Compensation Agency has kept a separate manual record of claims relating to GAA property.

Inquiries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what expenditure his Department has incurred to date on  (a) the Saville Inquiry,  (b) the Robert Hamill Inquiry,  (c) the Rosemary Nelson Inquiry and  (d) the Billy Wright Inquiry.

Shaun Woodward: Expenditure by the Northern Ireland Office to the end of September 2009 on funding the public inquiries is as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 Bloody Sunday Inquiry (1)153 
			 Robert Hamill Inquiry 28 
			 Rosemary Nelson Inquiry 43 
			 Billy Wright Inquiry 28 
			 (1) In addition, £36 million has been paid by the Ministry of Defence in relation to the inquiry.

Prisoners

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average number of prisoners being held in each prison in Northern Ireland was during September  (a) 2007,  (b) 2008 and  (c) 2009.

Paul Goggins: The average number of prisoners held in each prison is provided in the following table:
	
		
			  Number 
			  September  Maghaberry  Mag i lli gan  Hydebank Wood  Total Average 
			 2007 813 405 245 1,463 
			 2008 859 449 249 1,557 
			 2009 816 404 235 1,455

OLYMPICS

Olympic Games 2012: Housing

John Mann: To ask the Minister for the Olympics how many Olympic Village flats she expects to have been pre-sold before August 2012.

Tessa Jowell: As announced in June, agreement has been reached for the sale of 1,379 affordable homes in the Olympic Village development to Triathlon Homes LLP.
	Given the current uncertainty in the property market, the sales and marketing strategy for the sale of remaining homes continues to be developed. A precise figure for more pre-2012 sales of homes is therefore not yet available.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Homeworking

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the staff seconded to his Department have been authorised to work from home in the last 12 months.

Ann McKechin: No staff in the Scotland Office formally work from home.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Subsidies

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many single payment scheme claims made in  (a) 2008,  (b) 2007,  (c) 2006 and  (d) 2005 remain outstanding; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  by what date he expects the Rural Payments Agency to have completed payments against Single Farm Payment Scheme claims made in  (a) 2008,  (b) 2007,  (c) 2006 and  (d) 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The following table sets out the number of outstanding claims under the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) for scheme years 2005 to 2008 inclusive.
	
		
			  Claims outstanding as at 30 October 2009 
			  Single Payment Scheme year  Number 
			 2005 3 
			 2006 6 
			 2007 43 
			 2008 105 
			 Total 157 
		
	
	Most of the 157 SPS claims remaining to be paid involve probate or legal issues, for which information is required from external parties. It is therefore not possible to predict when these payments will be made. Some claims may not receive a payment.

Biofuels

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate the Forestry Commission has made of the future availability of biomass from forests managed by the Commission.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Forestry Commission maintains comprehensive records of the forests it manages including area, species, age, growth rates and intended management. This data is used to create and update its forecasts of future production.
	Current estimates are that the public forest estate in England will produce 1.4 million cubic metres of timber per annum over the next 10 years and that to harvest significantly more would not be sustainable.
	In addition to this, other wood material, for example, from small sized coppice or harvesting residues, can be chipped and used as biomass. No precise data is available on the quantities involved.
	Further information on the production and use of biomass and timber is included in the Commission's Forestry Statistics booklet. The 2009 edition has just been published and I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

British Waterways Board: Finance

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what expenditure his Department has incurred on British Waterways in the last 10 years; and what revenue has been generated by British Waterways from projects and programmes supported by such expenditure in that period.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The grant in aid provided to British Waterways from DEFRA over the past 10 years is summarised as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 1999-2000 59 
			 2000-01 64.9 
			 2001-02 61.6 
			 2002-03 71.6 
			 2003-04 76.6 
			 2004-05 59.1 
			 2005-06 62.6 
			 2006-07 55.5 
			 2007-08 55.5 
			 2008-09 (1)61.6 
			 (1) Includes £5 million brought forward from 2010-11.   Source:  DEFRA internal figures. 
		
	
	British Waterways spends DEFRA grant in aid on maintaining and operating the waterways network rather than on specific projects or programmes. British Waterways receives income from maintaining and operating the waterways such as utility wayleaves, boat mooring charges and licence fees. It also receives income from its commercial activities including its property portfolio and funding from third parties for specific restoration and regeneration projects. Total income and funding from third parties over the last 10 years is summarised as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Direct income  Third party funding 
			 1999-2000 47.2 51.5 
			 2000-01 62.3 66.6 
			 2001-02 66.2 32.0 
			 2002-03 77.5 27.7 
			 2003-04 80.5 18.4 
			 2004-05 85.2 17.5 
			 2005-06 92.3 16.4 
			 2006-07 108.9 15.9 
			 2007-08 100.1 48.5 
			 2008-09 108.1 35.3 
			  Source: British Waterways.

Camels

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regulations govern the on-farm burial of  (a) camelids and  (b) companion sheep or cattle.

Jim Fitzpatrick: On-farm burial has been banned since 2003, when it was introduced as part of a wider set of controls on animal by-products by the EU Animal By-products Regulation 1774/2002. This Regulation is implemented in England by the Animal By-Products Regulations 2005, and by similar legislation in the rest of the UK. The ban applies to both camelids and companion sheep or cattle.
	Scientific evidence shows that the degradation process essential to ensure reduction of BSE/TSE infectivity cannot be guaranteed by burial. Even after burial scrapie infected material can persist in the soil for years and present a source of infection. Improper burial can also cause pollution problems and lead to the spread of other diseases that threaten animal and public health.

Coal Fired Power Stations

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many tonnes of coal were held in stock at each coal-fired power station in  (a) January and  (b) June 2009; and how many days supply of coal each figure represents.

David Kidney: I have been asked to reply.
	Data on coal stocks held at individual power stations are commercially sensitive. However we have figures for total stocks held at generators. At the end of January 2009, 13.3 million tonnes of coal were held at UK electricity generators and at the end of June 2009 18.3 million tonnes were held.
	These stocks represent theoretical supplies for 63 days and 86 days respectively. The number of running days is for illustrative purposes only and assumes the power station would be operating continuously throughout the period. In reality plants are unlikely to operate non-stop for this length of time.

Common Fisheries Policy

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what priorities the Government has set for reform of the Common Fisheries Policy; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The European Commission published a Green Paper on CFP reform on 21 April 2009 to trigger the CFP reform process and prompt debate across the EU. That paper presents a Vision for EU fisheries in 2020 and presents ideas for making the Vision happen. Member states are asked to respond to the Green Paper and send these to the Commission by the end of 2009. We are in the process of developing a full UK response.
	The UK agrees with the main elements of the Vision which include recovered fish stocks, fish stocks exploited at sustainable levels, a financially robust industry, fishers more involved in technical decision making, better compliance with the rules and improved fisheries governance across the globe.
	The UK has similarly laid its own vision for future fisheries-Fisheries 2027 which is closely aligned with the Commission's Vision. Since then the UK has set out clearly the key elements of that Vision, specifically at the May Council of Fisheries Ministers. These key elements are:
	fish stocks within safe biological limits;
	a prosperous and efficient fishing industry;
	recognition of the contribution of fishing to local communities; and
	fisheries management integrated with marine conservation.
	Ecological sustainability should be at the heart of delivering that Vision.

Departmental Postal Services

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which companies are under contract to his Department to provide mail services; and when each such contract expires.

Dan Norris: DEFRA's mail services are provided by the Royal Mail. This arrangement is in place until end March 2011, pending retendering of the pan-government framework arrangements operated currently by Buying Solutions. DEFRA will consider its arrangements with the Royal Mail in light of this exercise.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to implement the efficiency recommendations of the Operational Efficiency programme relating to his Department; and what training is available to  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department in respect of the delivery of value for money savings.

Dan Norris: DEFRA has adopted a three stage approach to achieving costs reduction savings under the Operational Efficiency Programme entailing benchmarking of our corporate services, functional reviews informed by the benchmarking results by April 2009 and implementation of review findings. Work under the programme is dovetailing and building upon more general action which the Department has been taking to achieve greater value for money (VFM). For example, our Workplace Support Initiative which will bring much of the DEFRA estate into a single Facilities Management contract saving £6 million per year in 2010-11 compared to the preceding year, rising to £11 million per year by 2013-14. The Department has a wide range of learning and development opportunities many of which underpin the drive for VFM.

Departmental Telephone Services

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many helplines his Department operates; and how much his Department has received from the operation of such helplines in each of the last three years.

Dan Norris: DEFRA operates one general helpline from which it receives no income.
	Animal Health and the Rural Payments Agency, both Agencies of DEFRA, operate the Pets Travel Scheme Helpline and the British Cattle Movement Service Helpline respectively and receive no income from them.

Departmental Telephone Services

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will consider the merits of securing accreditation of his Department's helplines to the Helplines Association's quality standard; and if he will make a statement.

Dan Norris: DEFRA's Helpline is currently accredited to ISO 9001. Additional and future renewal accreditations will take account of the full range of quality standards relevant to its operation.

Departmental Travel

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on  (a) car hire,  (b) train travel,  (c) air travel,  (d) hotels and  (e) restaurant meals for (i) Ministers and (ii) staff in his Department in each of the last five years.

Dan Norris: From information held centrally, the core-Department's expenditure on  (a) car hire since 2005-06 is:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2005-06 35,003 
			 2006-07 110,279 
			 2007-08 134,803 
			 2008-09 143,644 
			 2009-10 (to date) 50,368 
		
	
	On the train travel and air travel the expenditure is:
	
		
			  (£) 
			Air  Train 
			 July 2006 - March 2007 Staff 1,035,396 1,820,169 
			  Ministers 71,710 48,562 
			 April 2007 - March 2008 Staff 1,352,261 1,926,544 
			  Ministers 152,836 52,306 
			 April 2008 - March 2009 Staff 946,526 1,680,163 
			  Ministers 102,730 53,254 
			 April 2009 - August 2009 Staff 625,562 922,768 
			  Ministers 38,324 14,148 
		
	
	Information on the split of car-hire expenditure between Ministers and staff could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	On hotels, the expenditure is:
	
		
			   £ 
			 April 2006 - March 2007 87,950 
			 April 2007 - March 2008 358,866 
			 April 2008 - March 2009 541,311 
			 April 2009 - October 2009 327,067 
		
	
	Information on the split of hotel expenditure between Ministers and staff could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The core-Department's financial system records the following expenditure for UK and overseas subsistence but restaurant meals expenditure for Ministers and staff could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  £ 
			   UK  Overseas 
			 April 2006 - March 2007 700,293 542,883 
			 April 2007 - March 2008 369,091 421,188 
			 April 2008 - March 2009 265,977 357,897 
			 April 2009 - September 2009 252,111 159,318 
		
	
	Travel by Ministers and civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code respectively. The Cabinet office publish an annual list of overseas travel over £500 undertaken by Ministers. The 2008-09 list was published on 16 July and can be viewed at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/proprietyandethics/ministers/travelgifts.aspx
	The Department for Transport publish an annual written ministerial statement on the cost of ministerial cars. The latest one can be viewed at:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhanrd/cm090716/wmstext/90716m0009

Food: Packaging

Eric Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to bring forward proposals for sanctions on companies using excessive packaging on their products; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Lucas: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK's Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2003 (as amended) aim to ensure that all packaging is manufactured to ensure that the weight and volume are limited to the minimum adequate amount to maintain the necessary level of safety, hygiene and acceptance for the packed product and for the consumer.
	These regulations are enforced by Trading Standards Officers (TSOs) in local authorities. TSOs investigate complaints about companies using excessive packaging on their products and the regulations contain penalties that the courts can impose if those companies are found not to have complied.

Green Alliance: Finance

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what payments his Department has made to  (a) Green Alliance and  (b) Friends of the Earth in the last 12 months.

Dan Norris: holding answer 26 October 2009
	The core-department's financial system records that in the last 12 months no payments have been made to Friends of the Earth and payments totalling £103,810 have been made to Green Alliance. Of this sum, £63,962.50 is expenditure on a research study into the Role of Restrictions on Landfill in UK Waste Policy, and £39,847.50 is for grant expenditure on Strategic Relationship Management: Third Sector Strategy. DEFRA's Third Sector Strategy can be viewed at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/about/how/third-sectorindex.htm

Japanese Knotweed: Weed Control

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to eradicate Japanese knotweed; what consideration has been given to the introduction of psyllid species as part of such measures; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: We have no plans to attempt eradication of Japanese knotweed. The cost of a national eradication programme using current techniques would be prohibitively expensive, estimated in the 2003 DEFRA Review of Non-native Species Policy to be in the region of £1.56 billion.
	DEFRA has contributed over £240,000 to a five-year scientific research project in collaboration with Cornwall council, the Environment Agency, the Welsh Assembly Government and others, into the natural control of Japanese knotweed. This study has identified the psyllid 'Aphalara itadori' as highly specific to Japanese knotweed and a potential natural control agent. If successful, the control agent would limit the growth and natural spread of Japanese knotweed, and enhance the effectiveness of its management, but would not eradicate it.
	The psyllid has been tested against 87 plant species present in the UK, including all the members of the same genus, whether or not they are native, and all our native members of the same family, plus important crops and ornamentals.
	Applications have been submitted for licences to release the psyllid to the wild in England and Wales and the licensing authorities are giving careful consideration to the scientific evidence. This regulatory process has also included a public consultation by DEFRA's Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera), which was launched on 23 July. The consultation responses are currently being considered before the proposed licensing decisions are put to Ministers for approval.

Oil Fired Power Stations

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on how many days oil-fired power stations were activated in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available.

David Kidney: I have been asked to reply.
	The latest 12 month period for which data are available runs from 1 October 2008 to 30 September 2009. During that time-period oil fired power stations provided electricity to the high voltage transmission system on 182 days. Their output represented 0.4 per cent. of total transmission system demand.

Oil Fired Power Stations

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of operational oil-fired power stations will be more than 30 years old in 2010.

David Kidney: I have been asked to reply.
	In 2010, two currently operational oil-fired power stations will be more than 30 years old, approximately 62 per cent. of current oil-fired installed capacity.
	 Source:
	Digest of UK Energy Statistics, 2009, table 5.11, available at:
	http://decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/source/electricity/electricity.aspx

Oil Fired Power Stations

Brian Binley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of operational coal-fired powers stations will be more than  (a) 30 and  (b) 40 years old in 2010.

David Kidney: I have been asked to reply.
	In 2010, 10 currently operational coal-fired stations will be 40 years old or greater, approximately 60 per cent. of current coal-fired capacity, while a further five stations will be between 30 and 40 years old, approximately 36 per cent. of current coal-fired capacity.
	 Source:
	Digest of UK Energy Statistics, 2009, table 5.11, available at:
	http://decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/source/electricity/electricity.aspx

Party Conferences

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether any of his Department's non-departmental public bodies sent representatives to attend one or more political party conferences in 2009.

Dan Norris: The Environment Agency, Natural England, the Commission for Rural Communities and the Consumer Council for Water attended the three main party conferences.

Renewable Energy: Exports

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate his Department has made of the quantity of recovered fuel oil which was exported to other European countries in the last three years.

Dan Norris: DEFRA has not made an estimate of this kind. However, following the judgment of the Appeal Court in the OSS Group Ltd  v. Environment Agency case, the Environment Agency published on 1 August 2008 an interim statement on the regulation of waste oil. The Environment Agency's statement is available on its website and sets out the circumstances in which the Agency considers that fuel derived wholly or partially from waste lubricating oil has been fully recovered and has ceased to be waste. The statement also sets out the specification that currently applies in these circumstances.
	The Environment Agency's interim statement was published pending the development by the Agency of an end-of-waste protocol for fuels derived from waste lubricating oils. The Government have notified the Agency's post consultation draft of its end-of-waste protocol for the production and use of processed fuel oil from waste lubricating oils to the European Commission in compliance with Technical Standards Directive (98/34/EC). The initial three-month standstill period required under the directive ends on 30 November 2009.

TRANSPORT

Cycling: Helmets

Annette Brooke: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2009,  Official Report, column 101W, on cycling: helmets, how much his Department has spent on informing those  (a) under 16 and  (b) 16 or more years old of the risks of cycling without helmets; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Clark: The Think! campaigns for children include advice on the use of cycle helmets, as part of wider campaigns. These include Tales of the Road for children aged six to 11, launched in November 2008, which includes both pedestrian and cycle safety, including use of helmets, in the supporting materials, although the three TV adverts focus on pedestrian safety. In April 2009, we launched Think Education, to provide teachers and parents with good quality teaching materials covering all road safety issues. Advice on cycle helmets is part of these materials. So far they cover pre-school and upper primary age ranges. Materials for lower primary and secondary age groups up to 16 will be launched next year. Total spending on these campaigns is £3,525,000 but it is not possible to identify separately the proportion related to the information on cycle helmet use.
	Advice on cycle helmet use, for all ages, is also included in the cycling section of the Highway Code. Spending on the Highway Code is covered by revenue raised from sales of priced copies. The material is also available free on the DirectGov website.
	We have commissioned research on a range of cycle safety issues, which includes identifying good practice in encouraging use of cycle helmets. The project commenced on 21 August 2008 and will run for 24 months. The Department for Transport expects to publish the final reports in autumn 2010 but is aiming to complete the review of cycle helmet effectiveness later this year. Total spend on this project will be in the region of £537,000.

Cycling: Safety

Lembit �pik: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps he plans to take to improve the safety of cyclists.

Paul Clark: There are a number of initiatives under way at present, aimed at improving the safety of cyclists. These include promoting Bikeability cycle training for children; providing advice to child and adult cyclists on safe road use through the Highway Code and the THINK! road safety campaign, including use of protective equipment such as high visibility clothing and cycle helmets; providing more safe cycle routes to schools and other locations; guidance to local authorities on the design of safer road infrastructure, including effective cycle-specific measures as well as more general measures that benefit all road users such as 20 miles per hour (mph) zones; improvements to motor vehicle driver testing and training; and new measures on lorry mirrors to improve the visibility of cyclists and pedestrians.
	In addition, the Department for Transport has commissioned a research project looking at a range of cycle safety issues. The project commenced on 21 August 2008 and will run for 24 months. The Department expects to publish the final reports in autumn 2010.
	Our proposals for a new road safety strategy A Safer Way, published for consultation in April 2009, include a new target to halve the rate of cycle and pedestrian casualties per kilometre travelled. This recognises the need to encourage more cycling and walking as well as making them safer. Measures to achieve this include stronger guidance to local authorities to adopt 20 mph speed limits in residential streets and other areas with high levels of walking and cycle activity. We intend to publish our final road safety strategy later this year.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what plans the Government has made for the sale of the Dartford-Thurrock crossing; and if he will make a statement.

Sadiq Khan: The Prime Minister announced on 12 October that the Government are planning to raise £3 billion from the sale of assets over the next period. The Dartford Crossing was cited as an example of an asset that could be sold. The Department for Transport is working with HM Treasury and the Shareholder Executive to consider the commercial options for realising value for the taxpayer from the Dartford Crossing. This work is influenced by decisions to be made on the requirement for future capacity.
	The Department is planning to provide initial views from the analysis on future capacity options in early 2010. This will provide a basis for deciding which commercialisation option to pursue.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how much the operator of the Dartford-Thurrock crossing has received under its contract with the Department since April 2008; and how much revenue has accrued to the Department from the operation of the crossing since April 2008.

Sadiq Khan: The Road User Charging Order Accounts for the financial year 2008-09 will set out the revenue collected and the amount paid to Le Crossing Company Limited, previous operators of the Dartford Crossing. This data will not be available until early next year. When published, these Accounts will be placed in the Libraries of the House and on the Highways Agency's website.

Dartford-Thurrock Crossing: Tolls

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment he has made of the merits of installing a modern payment system which does not require vehicles to stop to pay with cash on the Dartford Crossing; and if he will make a statement.

Sadiq Khan: holding answer 29 October 2009
	A payment system which does not require vehicles to stop and pay cash is already available at the Dartford Crossing. The Dart-tag system at the crossing is based on dedicated short range communications (DSRC) technology and complies with EU directive 2004/52/EC (Interoperability of Electronic Road Toll Systems). This is a pre-payment system available for all classes of vehicle and does not involve cash handling at the plaza.
	A Dart-Tag is a computer chip based device that fixes to the inside of the vehicle's windscreen. Equipment installed in the toll booths automatically scans the personalised Dart-Tag, and providing the driver's account is in credit, the barrier rises automatically.
	The Department for Transport intends to look further at the potential benefits of credit card payments and newer technologies at the Dartford Crossing.

Driving Offences

Robert Goodwill: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport how many road traffic incidents involving stretch limousines and involving death or serious injury have been reported in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Paul Clark: In 2008 there were five reported road accidents involving death or serious injury known to involve limousines. It is not recorded how many of these were stretched limousines.

Exhaust Emissions

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what estimate his Department has made of the average quantity of carbon dioxide released by an exhaust which is  (a) compliant with and  (b) not compliant with the criteria set out in European Directive 92/97/EEC.

Sadiq Khan: The Department for Transport has made no assessment of the impact on carbon dioxide emissions of exhausts which are  (a) compliant with and  (b) not compliant with the criteria set out in European Directive 92/97/EEC.
	The Directive is primarily concerned with the ability of replacement exhausts to control noise. It does not directly control CO2 emissions, although it does limit the maximum permissible increase in exhaust back-pressure. However, there is no reason to expect a difference between approved and reasonable quality, non-approved replacement exhaust systems in respect of CO2 emissions.

Lorries: Safety

Lembit �pik: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what steps his Department plans to take to improve the safety of heavy goods vehicles.

Paul Clark: The Department for Transport is working on a range of measures to improve heavy goods vehicle safety. On vehicle standards, our plans include implementing mandatory requirements for Electronic Stability Control and supporting the introduction of Lane Departure Warning Systems and Advanced Emergency Braking Systems. We are also carrying out research on ways to improve driver vision. Earlier this year new regulations to harmonise the minimum European safety and environmental standards for all large vehicles came into force and will take effect over the next four years.

Motor Vehicles: Environment Protection

Lembit �pik: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what assessment has been made of the effects of  (a) motorcycles and  (b) cars on the environment in the period from 2006 to 2009.

Sadiq Khan: The Department for Transport has not conducted a specific assessment on this subject. However, the Department did publish research on improving road transport emissions modelling in June 2009, which can be found at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/environment/emissions/
	This research includes an updated database of 'road vehicle emissions factors'. These characterise the average emissions rates of different types of vehicles as a function of the average speed at which they are driven. This database includes emissions factors (both air quality and greenhouse gas emissions) for different sizes of cars and motorcycles.

Motor Vehicles: Exports

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what his estimate is of the number of second-hand  (a) passenger cars and  (b) light vans that were sold for export in each of the last five years.

Paul Clark: holding answer 29 October 2009
	The precise information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has been notified that a total of 315,092 vehicles were exported during 2008 that had previously been registered at an address in Great Britain. By late October, 307,823 vehicles had been exported during 2009.
	These figures cover all vehicle types, including commercial vehicles, and all permanent exports, regardless of whether or not the export coincided with a sale or a change of ownership.

Motorcycles: Environment Protection

Lembit �pik: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what recent steps his Department has taken to encourage the purchase of environmentally-friendly motorcycles.

Sadiq Khan: Like other road vehicles, new motorcycles are subject to mandatory air quality emissions standards. Motorcycles are not currently tested for CO2 emissions when they are type approved. In the absence of standard CO2 emissions figures, vehicle excise duty on motorcycles is graduated based on engine capacity as an approximate surrogate for CO2 emissions.

Road Traffic Offences: Foreigners

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on measures to ensure that drivers of heavy goods vehicles registered overseas are prosecuted for road traffic offences committed in England and Wales.

Paul Clark: In April 2009, the Government introduced the graduated penalty and fixed deposit scheme. This empowers both the police and enforcement officers from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency to demand on-the-spot payment of a financial deposit from non-resident drivers (including heavy goods vehicle drivers) committing road traffic offences. Offenders are given the option to go to court, and have the deposit returned to them if they are subsequently cleared of the offence. In practice, almost no foreign drivers elect to go to court.

Rolling Stock

Eric Martlew: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport whether there are any plans to extend to 11 carriages all of the 52 Pendolino trains.

Chris Mole: The option to extend the remaining 21 Pendolino trains to 11 carriages is currently being considered by the Department for Transport and we intend to make a decision by the end of the year on whether we wish to progress this option further.

Waterloo International

Norman Baker: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport on what date ownership of Waterloo International passed from  (a) the British Rail (Residuary) body to his Department; and  (b) his Department to Network Rail.

Chris Mole: The Waterloo International Terminal was transferred directly from Eurostar (UK) Ltd. to BRB (Residuary) Ltd. (BRBR) on 27 March 2008. The facility remains in BRBR's ownership.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Cultural Heritage

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much money his Department has spent on salaries for staff working on heritage  (a) in actual prices,  (b) in real prices and  (c) as a percentage of total expenditure on staff salaries by his Department in each year since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 12 October 2009
	Salaries for employees working on heritage in  (a) actual prices and  (b) in real prices and  (c) as a percentage of total expenditure on employee salaries is set out in the table. Variations in the figures are explained by restructuring and efficiency savings undertaken within the division, and the transfer of areas of responsibility to other divisions within the Department.
	
		
			   Heritage staff salaries in actual prices (£)  Heritage staffs salaries in real prices (£)  Salaries in actual prices as a percentage of total salaries 
			 2008-09 932,990 932,990 5.15 
			 2007-08 1,124,157 1,151,729 4.31 
			 2006-07 1,364,310 1,438,159 5.33 
			 2005-06 1,353,348 1,468,811 5.77 
			 2004-05 1,235,931 1,366,409 5.78 
			 2003-04 1,327,530 1,508,471 6.41 
			 2002-03 1,277,922 1,493,039 6.49 
			 2001-02 1,334,472 1,609,388 6.33 
			 2000-01 1,363,659 1,681,329 5.39 
			 1999-2000 1,495,573 1,868,205 6.05 
			 1998-99 1,600,812 2,039,017 6.89 
			 1997-98 1,440,411 1,873,364 10.50

Departmental Home Working

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many staff of his Department have been authorised to work from home in the last 12 months.

Si�n Simon: DCMS staff are actively encouraged to work alternative working patterns, including working from home. These are mainly arranged at local line management level and the Department does not hold comprehensive data centrally about the number of staff involved. DCMS has a new human resources information system in place, and when this is fully operational, will record this information for us.

Departmental Manpower

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many  (a) full and  (b) part-time employees his Department had in each year since 1997.

Si�n Simon: The number of full and part time employees for each year since 1997 is set out in the following table. Head count is taken as at 1 April each year.
	
		
			   Full time employees  Part-time employees  Total 
			 1997-98 330 18 348 
			 1998-99 369 18 387 
			 1999-2000 341 13 354 
			 2000-01 390 20 410 
			 2001-02 390 20 410 
			 2002-03 430 20 450 
			 2003-04 460 30 490 
			 2004-05 490 40 530 
			 2005-06 480 45 525 
			 2006-07 480 41 521 
			 2007-08 494 33 527 
			 2008-09 437 45 482

Film

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent steps his Department has taken to support the UK film industry.

Si�n Simon: The Government have recently announced that they will commit £45 million to establish a new state-of-the-art national film centre on London's South Bank, on top of the £25 million investment in the UK's screen heritage previously announced. The new BFI National Film Centre will showcase the best of British and world cinema across five screens, as well as creating an innovative new space for exhibitions, cultural events, research and study.
	The Government provided £34.834 million of grant funding to the UK Film Council for 2009-10. The UK Film Council invests grant in aid and lottery money in developing new filmmakers, in funding exciting new British films, in getting a wider choice of films to audiences throughout the UK, and in awarding £16 million annually to the BFI to fund activities which include the preservation of the film archives. The UK Film Council also invests in training, promoting Britain as an international filmmaking location and in raising the profile of British films abroad.
	The Government provide tax relief to support filmmakers; in 2008-09 film production companies benefited from £100 million worth of tax credit.

Horse Racing: Bookmakers

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2009,  Official Report, column 2039W, on horse racing: bookmakers, whether the letter sent by the Minister of Sport referred to a dispute resolution mechanism; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My letter of 28 July to the Federation of Racecourse Bookmakers and the Race Course Association included my view that a dispute resolution mechanism should be allowed, as long as it is simple, quick and cost effective, and does not become a reason to avoid legitimate negotiation.

Horse Racing: Towcester

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the regulatory regime on the future of Towcester racecourse in light of the agreement between the racecourse and its bookmakers for the tenure of on-course bookmakers' listing positions.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have not made a recent detailed assessment of the regulatory regime on the future of Towcester Racecourse but I did meet their representatives at the outset of the on-course discussions and have taken a close interest in the developments. I was delighted to attend a reception hosted by Towcester Racecourse on 27 October to announce the agreement they have reached with their on-course bookmakers and I encourage other race courses to consider similar agreements.

Island Games

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether he plans to promote the Island Games in the Isle of Wight.

Gerry Sutcliffe: We are delighted that the Isle of Wight has won the right to host the 2011 Island Games. While the primary responsibility for promoting the games lies with the organising committee that has been established, the Department would be happy to meet with them to discuss what assistance it might be able to provide.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he plans to reply to the letter of 1 September 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Tim Bannister.

Stephen Timms: I have been asked to reply.
	I responded to my right hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Gorton on behalf of my noble Friend the Secretary of State and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on 26 October. The letter that was sent to the Department for Culture Media and Sport had been transferred to the Department for Business for response. I apologise to my right hon. Friend that he had not been advised of the transfer.

Swimming: Concessions

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people took part in his Department's free swimming initiative in the last 12 months.

Ben Bradshaw: The number of unique participants in the Free Swimming Programme is not collected centrally. Local authorities are responsible for collecting data on the number of free swims that have taken place in their area each month. The latest figures, published on 27 October 2009, showed that 10,373,811 free swims have taken place in the six months since the programme's launch on 1 April 2009.
	The Government have commissioned a robust independent evaluation of the Free Swimming Programme which is led by PricewaterhouseCoopers. PricewaterhouseCoopers will draw together a range of data over the coming months to provide an estimate of the number of people that have taken part in free swimming. We expect an evaluation report to be published in early summer 2010.

VisitBritain: Finance

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much the move of VisitBritain and VisitEngland to new headquarters cost; what the estimated operating cost is for the new headquarters in each of the next three years; and what the operating costs were for  (a) VisitBritain's and  (b) VisitEngland's former headquarters in each of the last five years.

Margaret Hodge: The information regarding the move of VisitBritain and VisitEngland to new headquarters is held by VisitBritain.
	I have therefore asked VisitBritain's chief executive to answer the question raised by the hon. Member for Bath and to write to him direct.
	Copies of the letter will be placed in the Library of both Houses.

VisitBritain: Finance

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent on the VisitBritain website in each of the last five years; how many visitors the website received in each of those years; and what the average hit rate was for individual accommodation business web pages in each of those years.

Margaret Hodge: The VisitBritain website is the responsibility of VisitBritain.
	I have therefore asked VisitBritain's chief executive to answer the question raised by the hon. Member for Bath and to write to him direct.
	Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

VisitBritain: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much has been spent on the  (a) VisitBritain and  (b) Enjoy England websites in each year since their establishment.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 2 November 2009
	The running and maintenance of these website are the responsibility of VisitBritain and VisitEngland respectively, who operate independently of Government.
	I have therefore asked the chief executives of the organisations concerned to consider the questions raised by the hon. Member for South-West Surrey (Mr. Hunt) and to write to him direct.
	Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

World Heritage Sites

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications for locations in England to become World Heritage Sites are outstanding; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 2 November 2009
	The UK Tentative List, published in 1999, identified 25 sites for potential nomination for World Heritage status, 15 of which are located in England. Six English sites have since been inscribed on the World Heritage List. One English site, Darwin's Landscape Laboratory, was submitted to UNESCO in 2009 and will be considered by the World Heritage Committee at its annual meeting in 2010.
	The Government are currently reviewing its World Heritage policy including making nominations in the future and expects to make an announcement later this autumn.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Average Earnings: Income Related Benefits

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what definition of average earnings her Department uses when setting the rates of benefits that are linked to earnings; and over which 12 month period the calculation is made.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 29 October 2009
	Where the Secretary of State reviews the amounts of earnings linked benefits, by convention, the Department uses the seasonally adjusted, three-month average earnings figure for the whole economy, including bonuses, for May to July compared with same period the previous year, as calculated by the Office for National Statistics.
	The Government will inform Parliament of proposed benefit levels and tax thresholds for 2010-11 at the pre-Budget Report.

Better Off in Work Credit: Yorkshire

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have moved from benefits to work as a result of the Better off in Work Credit pilot in Yorkshire.

Jim Knight: Under the current tax and benefit systems, the combination of the national minimum wage, tax credits and the other forms of in-work support we have introduced ensures that work pays for the majority of people, and particularly lone parents and disabled people who receive significantly more in work.
	One of our reasons for introducing the credit was to give assurances to our customers on the financial benefits of moving into work and to encourage them to look for and start work. The pilot ends on 30 October 2009. We will then evaluate the number of people who have moved from benefits into work.

Carer's Allowance: St Albans

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in St Albans constituency  (a) are entitled to and  (b) receive carer's allowance.

Jonathan R Shaw: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of people entitled to carer's allowance-St. Albans constituency: February 2009 
			   Number 
			 Total with entitlement 850 
			 Total with entitlement only 350 
			 Total receiving payment 500 
			  Notes: 1. Caseload totals show the number of people who are entitled to receive carer's allowance, including those who receive no actual payment. 2. Carers entitled to receive carer's allowance may not be paid it because they receive an overlapping benefit equal to or greater than their weekly rate of carer's allowance. 3. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 4. Figures are published on the Department for Work and Pensions website at: www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/tabtool.asp  Source: Department for Work and Pensions Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study

Departmental Manpower

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff there were in  (a) her Department's predecessor in 1997 and  (b) her Department on the latest date for which figures are available.

Helen Goodman: The Department for Work and Pensions was formed in June 2001 when the then Department of Social Security merged with the then Employment Service and some parts of the then Department for Education and Employment.
	Staffing information for the predecessor organisations in 1997 can be found in the Civil Service Statistics Report for 1997. The report is available in electronic format through the attached link:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/Assets/css97_tcm6-2540.pdf
	The latest staffing figures which are publicly available are as at 30 June 2009. At this date there were 101,611 full-time equivalent staff in the Department for Work and Pensions and its Executive agencies.(1)
	(1) Figure does not include staff in the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission or in the Health and Safety Executive.

Departmental Postal Services

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which companies are under contract to her Department to provide mail services; and when each such contract expires.

Jim Knight: DWP's primary postal provider remains Royal Mail Group. There is no contract or expiry date and we have an annually agreed memorandum of understanding. Other contracted DWP postal providers are as follows:
	UK Mail-a contract for system generated second class mail to DWP customers. The DWP contract runs until 31 March 2010 and there is scope to extend this contract until 31 March 2011.
	Spring Global Mail-a contract for international mail to DWP customers-due to expire 30 April 2010.
	DWP's contracted courier provider is TNT-the contract is until 31 January 2010, with an option to extend until 31 March 2012. The courier service is for internal items sent between DWP offices and third party providers - it is not used for delivery to DWP customers' home addresses.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps her Department is taking to implement the efficiency recommendations of the Operational Efficiency programme relating to her Department; and what training is available to  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in her Department in respect of the delivery of value for money savings.

Jim Knight: The Department for Work and Pensions is participating in the Operational Efficiency Programme benchmarking exercise led by the Treasury, and we have set up a Departmental Efficiency Group to identify and implement efficiency improvements arising from this.
	I have taken on a role as the Department's Value for Money Minister and am engaging with the Treasury to ensure we drive forward this agenda.
	There is a wide range of learning and development opportunities available across the Department, many of which are focused on driving Value for Money. In particular, we have set up a lean academy which will enable managers and staff to improve efficiency and customer service.

Departmental Rail Travel

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much her Department spent on first class rail travel for civil servants in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Department's expenditure on first class rail travel has only been gathered in the format requested since June 2006. Details for the three-year period from June 2006 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  £ 
			  First class rail spend for DWP  Domestic  Overseas  Total 
			 June 2006 to May 2007 12,862,966 93,966 12,956,932 
			 June 2007 to May 2008 12,236,169 93,872 12,330,041 
			 June 2008 to May 2009 12,920,688 115,043 13,035,731 
		
	
	The Department's rail travel policy encourages staff to travel using the most cost effective tickets available at the time of booking and staff must consider travelling standard class where possible.
	Travel by civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on Regularity and Propriety. The Civil Service Management Code sets outs regulations and instructions to Departments and agencies regarding the terms and conditions of service of civil servants and the delegations which have been made by the Minister for the Civil Service under the Civil Service (Management of Functions) Act 1992 together with the conditions attached to those delegations.
	The Code can be accessed at:
	http://beta.civilservice.uk/about/work/codes/csmc/index.aspx
	Paragraph 8.2 of the Code deals with travel and under this section Departments and agencies must ensure that staff use the most efficient and economic means of travel in the circumstances, taking into account any management benefit or the needs of staff with disabilities.

Departmental Telephone Services

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many helplines her Department operates; and how much her Department has received from the operation of such helplines in each of the last three years.

Jim Knight: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has 10 main customer contact numbers, which we think could be considered 'helplines'.
	DWP does not receive any revenue from incoming phone calls. All call charges are levied by the caller's telephone or mobile service provider.
	DWP ceased to receive a rebate on 0845 numbers in 2007. Prior to this, the revenue from 0845 calls was approximately £500,000 per year. We do not hold any more detailed information on this rebate.

Departmental Telephone Services

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations she has received on changing the charging arrangements for helplines operated by her Department and its agencies to allow mobile telephone users to contact such helplines without incurring additional costs; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: holding answer 26 October 2009
	Over the course of the year, representations have been received from other Members of Parliament, on similar issues, such as the cost of 0845 numbers to customers using mobile phones to contact the Department for Work and Pensions. All of these have been answered fully and are available on record.
	Additionally, DWP's Permanent Secretary was asked to comment on the CAB publication, Hung Up-The Cost of Contacting Government from a Mobile Phone A response was provided as requested.

Employers' Liability

Rob Marris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many organisations legally required to have an employers' liability insurance policy in force were prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive for  (a) failure to display a notice at a place of work giving details of such a policy and  (b) failure to have such a policy in force in (i) 2004-05, (ii) 2005-06, (iii) 2006-07, (iv) 2007-08 and (v) 2008-09.

Jim Knight: holding answer 29 October 2009
	The number of dutyholders the Health and Safety Executive have prosecuted for failure to  (a) display a notice of employers' liability insurance or  (b) failure to hold employers' liability insurance are as follows:
	
		
			   (a) Failure to display  (b)  No insurance 
			 2004-05 1 14 
			 2005-06 - 5 
			 2006-07 - 8 
			 2007-08 - 5 
		
	
	Figures for 2008-09 will be available in November 2009.

Employment Tribunals Service

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many times her Department has been taken to an employment tribunal in each of the last five years; what the reasons cited in each case were; and in how many such cases the tribunal found in favour of (i) the employee and (ii) the Department.

Jim Knight: Much of the information requested would be available only from a detailed examination of individual records and cases from the last five years. The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Future Jobs Fund

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobs each of the 117 successful bidders for funding from the Future Jobs Fund plans to create  (a) by given dates and  (b) in total under its proposal.

Jim Knight: Around 31,000 jobs have so far been granted funding for the period October 2009 to March 2010. Details of the individual bids are in the attached table. In total, the 117 successful bids have bid to create up to 75,000 jobs over the lifetime of the Future Jobs Fund. Until we have assessed performance from the first six months jobs we are unable to specify how many of these further jobs will be created from the first tranche of bids. We will be undertaking performance reviews in January 2010.
	
		
			  Tranche One Successful Future Jobs Fund Bidders Jobs Granted Funding, October 2009 to March 2010 
			 Royal National Institute of Blind 45 
			 Aberdeen City Council 10 
			 Renaissance East of England 30 
			 The Healthy Hub CIC 35 
			 Kent County Council 360 
			 Places for People 75 
			 Trax Energy Solutions 70 
			 London - Barking and Dagenham 108 
			 Third Sector Hebrides 20 
			 Green-Works 51 
			 Kirklees Council 138 
			 HCT Group 42 
			 Gateway Knowledge Alliance 200 
			 Call Brittania 45 
			 Falkirk Council 28 
			 The Coalfields Regeneration Trust 91 
			 NHS 30 
			 Camden Council 108 
			 Cheshire West and Chester Council 330 
			 Birmingham, Coventry and Black Country 3,552 
			 West Lindsey District Council 30 
			 Raploch Urban Regeneration Com 10 
			 Croydon Economic Development C 24 
			 Hyfforddiant Ceredigion Training 40 
			 Humber Economic Partnership 145 
			 Apex Scotland 2 
			 Fife Council 38 
			 St Mungo's 50 
			 Community Action Derby 100 
			 North Yorkshire Learning Consortium 40 
			 Southbank Centre 30 
			 3SC 2,932 
			 Stoke-on-Trent City Council 524 
			 Wiltshire Council 180 
			 VC Train Consortium 60 
			 Cornwall Council 82 
			 Erewash Borough Council 20 
			 South Lanarkshire Council 400 
			 Royal Borough of Kingston 40 
			 WCVA 593 
			 Furniture Resource Centre Ltd 36 
			 Midlothian Council 32 
			 East Ayrshire Council 113 
			 The Pre-school Learning Alliance 50 
			 Lewisham Council 79 
			 Southbank Employers Group 38 
			 Novas Scarman Group 33 
			 Angus Council 22 
			 Bolsover District Council 50 
			 Dundee Partnership 65 
			 Pennine Lancashire 419 
			 West Dunbartonshire Council 120 
			 West Lothian Council 30 
			 Brighton and Hove City Council 120 
			 First Movement 8 
			 Resources Plus 100 
			 Apex Scotland 2 
			 Middlesbrough Council 150 
			 Luton Borough Council 102 
			 Newport Future Jobs Fund Partnership 72 
			 Network for Black Professionals 90 
			 North Tyneside Council 1,610 
			 Northamptonshire Enterprise Ltd 350 
			 Scottish Wildlife Trust 100 
			 Inverclyde Council 120 
			 Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council 181 
			 Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council 96 
			 Pembrokeshire County Council 60 
			 Camarthenshire County Council 97 
			 Lambeth First 198 
			 East Tenders 57 
			 Norfolk County Council 356 
			 Glasgow City Council 300 
			 Pentra Services Ltd 30 
			 Interlink 45 
			 North Ayrshire Council 60 
			 Apex Scotland 2 
			 Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council(Liverpool City Region) 2,570 
			 Nacro 48 
			 Social Enterprise London 200 
			 London Borough of Ealing 100 
			 Greenwich Council 260 
			 Hampshire County Council 398 
			 Hastings Borough Council 125 
			 Islington Council 167 
			 Host Borough Unit 89 
			 Asian Women's Project 0 
			 Westminster City Council 95 
			 London Youth 50 
			 North Lanarkshire Council 390 
			 Nottingham City Council 800 
			 Salvation Army 332 
			 Redcar and Cleveland Borough LSP 75 
			 Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council 872 
			 Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts 182 
			 Scottish Forestry Commission 60 
			 St. Paul's Community Development Trust 100 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 62 
			 Stride 78 
			 Southwark Earn and Learn 112 
			 Thanet District Council 119 
			 Renaisi Ltd 100 
			 Education Supplement Partnership 0 
			 SCVO 1,020 
			 Groundwork and NHF 2,384 
			 Bristol City Council 189 
			 Training for Life 49 
			 Warwickshire County Council 73 
			 City of Edinburgh Council 80 
			 Herefordshire Council 54 
			 Copeland Borough Council 48 
			 Sheffield City Council 790 
			 Barnsley MDC 326 
			 Lancashire County Council 128 
			 Hartlepool Borough Council 500 
			 Salford City Council (aka Commission for the New Economy) 1,500 
			 Cardiff Council 289 
			 Shropshire County Council (Training) 60 
			 Total 30,975 
			  Source: Future Jobs Fund Management Information

Future Jobs Fund

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions over what time period each of the proposals successful in the Future Jobs Fund bidding round which concluded in July 2009 will operate; and how many and by what date jobs will be created under each scheme.

Jim Knight: There is a rolling grant award process, with bidding rounds closing at the end of every month. There were 117 successful bidders for the initial bidding round which closed on 30 June. These bids will create jobs between October 2009 and March 2011.
	There were 30 successful bidders for the second bidding round and 18 for the third round.
	From the first bidding round, the Government are granting funding now only for jobs that will start between October 2009 and March 2010. The Government have so far granted funding for approximately 31,000 jobs on this basis. We will then assess performance of the Future Jobs Fund before extending grants. We will be undertaking these performance reviews in late 2009 and early 2010. In total, successful bidders in the first round had bid for approximately 75,000 jobs over the period October 2009 to March 2011, although it is not possible at this stage to state precisely how many of these further jobs will be funded after the performance reviews have concluded.
	In total 150,000 new jobs will be created under the Future Jobs Fund between October 2009 and March 2011, of which 100,000 will be for young people. The other 50,000 will be in employment hotspots, and will also be open to young people in those areas.

Future Jobs Fund

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many bids for funding from the Future Jobs Fund have been received from organisations in the  (a) culture, music and creative industries and  (b) sports and media industries; and how much such organisations have received funding from the fund.

Jim Knight: holding answer 26 October 2009
	The Department for Work and Pensions does not have a detailed breakdown of the sectors that the bids seek to create jobs in. The list of successful bidders to the Future Jobs Fund is available on our website at
	www.dwp.gov.uk/futurejobsfund.
	Many of these bids are from partnerships who plan to create jobs with a variety of organisations, in different sectors. The Football League Trust and the National Skills Academy for Sport led bid will be creating Future Jobs Fund jobs primarily in the sports sector.
	Information on the levels of funding awarded is not publicly available as this is commercially confidential.

Incapacity Benefit

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of incapacity benefit claimants between the ages of 18 and 25 she expects to take part in three additional mandatory work-focused interviews as proposed in the Social Security (Incapacity Benefit Work-Focused Interviews) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 in the next 12 months.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 14 October 2009
	 The exercise to require existing customers on incapacity benefits under the age of 25 in Jobcentre Plus Pathways to Work areas to attend mandatory work-focused interviews begins this month. We plan to complete the exercise by March 2011. Current estimates indicate that around 28,300 customers will be affected, this represents around 25 per cent. of the 18 to 25-year-olds currently on incapacity benefits nationally. Customers who are currently exempt from attending personal capability assessments will not be called in for interview.

Incapacity Benefit

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claimants who receive both disability living allowance and incapacity benefit have been in receipt of incapacity benefit for more than  (a) six months,  (b) 12 months,  (c) 18 months,  (d) two years and  (e) five years.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer on 26 October 2009
	 The information is in the table:
	
		
			  Number of people receiving incapacity benefit and disability living allowance by duration as at February 2009 
			  Duration  Number of claimants of incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance and disability living allowance 
			 6 months and up to 12 months 46,390 
			 12 months and up to 18 months 42,410 
			 18 months and up to 2 years 41,540 
			 2 years and up to 5 years 219,620 
			 5 years and over 945,600 
			  Notes:  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  2. Durations refer to incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance awards.  3. Data are for Great Britain and abroad.  4. Employment and support allowance replaced incapacity benefit and income support paid on the grounds of incapacity for new claims from 27 October 2008. These data do not include employment and support allowance.  Source:  DWP Information Directorate 100 per cent. Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study

Jobcentre Plus

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 20 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1394W, on Jobcentre Plus manpower, how many of the  (a) personal advisers of each type and  (b) customer service operations staff (i) have been recruited and (ii) are planned to be recruited.

Jim Knight: holding answer 16 September 2009
	The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the right hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Ruth Owen:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking, pursuant to the answer of 20 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1394W, on Jobcentre Plus manpower, how many of the  (a) personal advisers of each type and  (b) customer service operations staff (i) have been recruited and (ii) are planned to be recruited. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to Mel Groves as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus. As Mel Groves is currently on annual leave, I am replying in his absence.
	Information relating to the number of Personal Advisers deployed in Jobcentre Plus was previously provided to the answer of 19 June 2009,  Official Report, column 558W.
	The Department is planning to publish more up-to-date numbers on DWP manpower in the near future. These will be published in accordance with the UK Statistics Authority's Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

Jobcentre Plus: Birmingham

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment her Department has made of the  (a) aims and  (b) performance to date of the Birmingham City Council Jobcentre Plus partnership.

Jim Knight: holding answer 26 October 2009
	The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what assessment her Department has made of the  (a) aims and  (b) performance to date of the Birmingham City Council Jobcentre Plus partnership. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Birmingham City Council has been a long standing partner in a wide range of initiatives which have an employment or training focus. Jobcentre Plus and Birmingham City Council are an active part of a wider network promoting support for those who are workless or disadvantaged. Birmingham City Council is also very active in the City Region, in the design and delivery of the Multi Area Agreement which Jobcentre Plus is also a member of. The Local Area Agreement also provides a productive working arrangement for both organisations and other partners.
	Most of this activity has a similar aim to help reduce unemployment, increase employment and to tackle deep seated worklessness. Examples of joint working stem from the Joint Venture Partnership which delivered New Deal in the city, the partnership initiatives to address the closure of MG Rover and the impact on other dependent businesses and the redevelopment and modernisation of the Bull Ring.
	In addition Birmingham City Council is the accountable body for several funding streams such as the Working Neighbourhoods Fund and works with partners to target funding to those most in need, for example, geographically targeted employment support.
	Recently Jobcentre Plus has developed initiatives with Birmingham City Council to help those affected by the closure of the van maker LDV, which ensured that 662 LDV workers received a range of advice on job search, debt avoidance and claiming Housing Benefits. 111 ex-LDV workers have returned to employment and a further 493 have received training.
	Jobcentre Plus and Birmingham City Council have developed a joint offer to contractors and employers involved in regeneration and relocation within the city. Projects include the New Birmingham Library and the relocation of Bournville College as part of the Longbridge Development.
	Birmingham City Council signed a Local Employment Partnership Agreement on 1 April 2008 and were one of the first to pledge help for young people through Backing Young Britain. They lead a coalition with the public sector, private employers and the third sector to deliver the City Region wide Future Jobs Fund with more than 2000 jobs being identified in Birmingham.
	Jobcentre Plus works closely with Birmingham City Council's Employment Action Team to reach customers and communities furthest away from the labour market and jointly promote Local Employment Partnerships to deliver customised packages to support employers. For example, 160 disadvantaged customers are undertaking a Pre-Recruitment Training programme for a national retailer opening in early 2010.

Jobcentre Plus: Manpower

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Jobcentre Plus staff were employed in each region in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is the responsibility of the acting chief executive, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many Jobcentre Plus staff were employed in each region in each of the last five years. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	A regional breakdown for the period before 2007/08 is not available. For that period therefore, we are providing an overall Jobcentre Plus staffing figure for each year as shown below:
	
		
			  Jobcentre Plus staffing 
			   Full-time equivalent 
			 2004/05 74,474 
			 2005/06 71,221 
			 2006/07 67,946 
		
	
	For 2007/08 and 2008/09, the information at regional/country level is in the table below. The levels of Jobcentre Plus staff deployed across regions/countries will vary depending on how specific areas of work are managed. For instance, the Contact Centre Directorate operates a virtual network and therefore aligning their work to geographic boundaries would be misleading. Wales has three large contact centres handling calls as part of the virtual network.
	On the same principle, the network of Benefit Delivery Centres can, and does, move work around the country on a weekly basis to maximise speed of claim processing. Although Benefit Delivery Centres are in the main linked to regions/countries, such work movement and some centralised functions mean there is not a clear distinction. For example, applications for National Insurance numbers are processed in two centres, Glasgow and Isle of Wight, so staff numbers will be included in the Government Office Region for Scotland and South East respectively.
	
		
			  Jobcentre Plus staffing 
			  Full-time equivalent 
			  Region/country  2007/08  2008/09 
			 East Midlands 4,342 4,801 
			 East of England 4,202 4,601 
			 London 7,407 7,560 
			 North East 4,313 4,333 
			 North West 10,661 10,672 
			 Scotland 7,776 8,256 
			 South East 5,118 5,555 
			 South West 4,275 4,602 
			 Wales 4,562 4,908 
			 West Midlands 6,391 6,781 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 7,360 7,413 
			 Total 66,407 69,482 
			  Notes: 1. Headcount figures are quoted in full-time equivalents using the Office for National Statistics definitions for counting headcount and details the position at March for each of the last five years. 2. The figures have been rounded to whole numbers.  Source: The data provided is taken from Dataview, an electronic extract drawn from payroll.

Jobcentre Plus: Manpower

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many care partnership managers were in post in each Jobcentre Plus district on 1 October 2009.

Jim Knight: holding answer 20 October 2009
	The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the acting chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the right hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many Care Partnership Managers were in post in each Jobcentre Plus district on 1 October 2009. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	On 1 October this year a total of 51 Care Partnership Managers were in post across 48 Jobcentre Plus districts. Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Swindon district, Devon and Cornwall district and The Marches each had two Care Partnership Managers in post. All the others had one in post.

Jobcentre Plus: Manpower

Nadine Dorries: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) permanent,  (b) temporary and  (c) agency staff have been employed in (i) benefit delivery centres and (ii) customer-facing job centres operated by Jobcente Plus in Mid-Bedfordshire constituency in each year since 2004.

Jim Knight: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is the responsibility of the acting chief executive, Mel Groves. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mel Groves:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many (a) permanent (b) temporary and (c) agency staff have been employed in (i) Benefit Delivery Centres and (ii) customer-facing Jobcentres operated by Jobcentre Plus in Mid-Bedfordshire constituency in each year since 2004. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Acting Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	There are two Jobcentres in the Mid-Bedfordshire constituency, but no Benefit Delivery Centres. Our Benefit Delivery Centres at Luton and Watford cater for people who live within the constituency.
	Information below national level for the period prior to 2006/07 is not available. The table below sets out data for both Jobcentres for each of the years 2006/07, 2007/08 and 2008/09, broken down by permanent, fixed-term appointment and temporary staff. Also included is the position as at July 2009. We do not employ agency staff.
	
		
			  Staff employed by Jobcentre Plus in Mid-Bedfordshire constituency 
			   Bedford Jobcentre  Biggleswade Jobcentre 
			  2006/07   
			 Permanent 77 10 
			 Fixed Term Appointment - - 
			 Temporary - - 
			 Total 77 10 
			
			  2007/08   
			 Permanent 69 11 
			 Fixed Term Appointment 3 - 
			 Temporary - - 
			 Total 72 11 
			
			  2008/09   
			 Permanent 85 12 
			 Fixed Term Appointment 12 3 
			 Temporary 1 - 
			 Total 98 15 
			
			  July 2009   
			 Permanent 72 10 
			 Fixed Term Appointment 29 7 
			 Temporary 5 - 
			 Total 106 17 
			  Notes: 1. Headcount figures are quoted in full-time equivalents using the Office for National Statistics definitions for counting headcount and details the position at March for each of the last three years. 2. The figures have been rounded to whole numbers.  Source: The data provided are taken from Dataview, an electronic extract drawn from payroll.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Derbyshire

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what average length of time jobseeker's allowance claimants, resident in West Derbyshire, received the allowance in each of the last five years.

Jim Knight: holding answer 26( ) October 2009
	The following table shows the average length of jobseeker's allowance claims in West Derbyshire in the last five years.
	
		
			   West Derbyshire 
			   Claims terminated during period  Median length 
			 October 2004 to September 2005(1) 1,735 9.5 
			 October 2005 to September 2006(1) 1,740 10.1 
			 October 2006 to September 2007(1) 1.975 9.7 
			 October 2007 to September 2008(1) 1,805 8.5 
			 October 2008 to September 2009(1) 3,030 9.2 
			 (1) Inclusive.   Notes:  1. Claims terminated during period are rounded to the nearest 5.  2. Median is measured in number of weeks. 3. Median is the preferred measure of average for duration of claim, rather than arithmetic mean which would be unduly influenced by outliers.   Source:  DWP WPLS 100 per cent. data.

Jobseeker's Allowance: Employment Schemes

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobseeker's allowance claimants have moved on to employment support allowance in each of the last 12 months.

Jim Knight: The information requested is not collated centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

New Deal for Disabled People and Pathways to Work

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been spent on the New Deal for Disabled People in each year since 2001.

Jim Knight: holding answer 22 October 2009
	 The information requested is in the table:
	
		
			  Total programme expenditure on new deal for disabled people 
			   £ million 
			 2001-02 4.1 
			 2002-03 15.6 
			 2003-04 28.5 
			 2004-05 64.8 
			 2005-06 68.4 
			 2006-07 73.0 
			 2007-08 78.4 
			 2008-09 34.1 
			  Note: The reduction of expenditure in 2008-09 is due to the introduction of contracted delivery of Pathways to Work in around half the country. These contracted services include provision which is analogous to the new deal for disabled people which now only operates in the remaining districts.

New Deal for Disabled People and Pathways to Work

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many sub-contractors have withdrawn from contractual commitments in the delivery of the  (a) New Deal for Disabled People and  (b) Pathways to Work programme; how many contracts have been handed back to prime providers in each district; and what the monetary value of contracts returned to prime providers is to date.

Jim Knight: holding answer 14 October 2009
	The number of subcontractors that have withdrawn from the delivery of New Deal for Disabled People and Pathways to Work provision will be placed in the House of Commons Library during November.
	The monetary value of Pathways to Work contracts is a commercial matter between the organisations concerned.

Social Security Benefits

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate she has made of the number and proportion of claimants of  (a) incapacity benefit and  (b) severe disablement allowance who were also in receipt of (i) income support, (ii) housing benefit and (iii) council tax benefit in each year for which information is available.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 26 October 2009
	 The available information is in the tables.
	
		
			  Housing benefit recipients (HB) also claiming incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance (SDA) in Great Britain: May 1995 to May 2004 
			   IB  SDA 
			   Claiming IB and HB  Estimate of percentage of IB claimants also in receipt of HB  Claiming SDA and HB  Estimate of percentage of SDA claimants also in receipt of HB 
			 May 1995 431,000 (1)18 92,000 (1)26 
			 May 1996 434,000 (1)18 110,000 (1)31 
			 May 1997 446,000 (1)19 117,000 (1)32 
			 May 1998 439,000 (1)19 122,000 (1)33 
			 May 1999 423,000 (1)19 118,000 (1)32 
			 May 2000 407,000 17 114,000 30 
			 May 2001 400,000 17 115,000 31 
			 May 2002 403,000 16 114,000 34 
			 May 2003 396,000 16 112,000 35 
			 May 2004 414,000 17 114,000 37 
		
	
	
		
			  Council tax benefit (CTB) recipients also claiming incapacity benefit (IB) and severe disablement allowance (SDA): Great Britain: May 1995 to May 2004 
			   IB  SDA 
			   Claiming IB and CTB  Estimate of percentage of IB claimants also in receipt of CTB  Claiming SDA and CTB  Estimate of percentage of SDA claimants also in  receipt  of CTB 
			 May 1995 529,000 (1)22 101,000 (1)29 
			 May 1996 528,000 (1)22 116,000 (1)33 
			 May 1997 573,000 (1)24 119,000 (1)32 
			 May 1998 569,000 (1)25 124,000 (1)33 
			 May 1999 541,000 (1)24 118,000 (1)32 
			 May 2000 516,000 22 112,000 30 
			 May 2001 511,000 21 113,000 30 
			 May 2002 512,000 21 110,000 33 
			 May 2003 498,000 20 97,000 30 
			 May 2004 497,000 20 97,000 32 
			 (1) These estimates are based on a 5 per cent. sample of incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claimants.  Notes: 1. The data refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. 2. Case loads are rounded to the nearest thousand. 3. Percentages are rounded to the nearest per cent. 4. Housing benefit figures exclude any extended payment cases. 5. Council tax benefit figures exclude any second adult rebate cases. 6. All proportions are estimates as figures are based on a 1 per cent. HB/CTB sample and come from two different data sources. 7. SDA figures were derived by looking at IBSDA claimants and IB claimants and working out the difference between these figures. 8. In time, these figures will be able to be derived by matching the new single housing benefit extract (SHBE) with other benefit data.  Source: Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System Annual 1 per cent. sample taken between May 1995 and May 2004. 
		
	
	
		
			  Number and proportion of people receiving incapacity benefit (IB) and income support (IS) 
			   IB  SDA 
			   Claiming IB and IS  Percentage of IB claimants also in receipt of IS  Claiming SDA and IS  Percentage of SDA claimants also in receipt of IS 
			 February 2000 959,880 40.9 256,540 68.3 
			 February 2001 1,040,160 43.1 260,410 69.1 
			 February 2002 1,078,130 44.4 253,550 70.4 
			 February 2003 1,126,410 45.2 229,840 70.8 
			 February 2004 1,038,020 41.4 191,950 62.0 
			 February 2005 1,025,690 41.0 183,040 61.8 
			 February 2006 1,022,180 41.5 174,150 61.5 
			 February 2007 1,029,100 42.3 167,300 61.8 
			 February 2008 1,035,630 43.1 159,750 61.8 
			 February 2009 982,500 44.2 152,750 61.9 
			  Note: Case loads are rounded to the nearest 10. Percentages are rounded to the nearest one decimal place.  Source: DWP Information Directorate 100 per cent. WPLS

State Retirement Pensions: Overseas Residence

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was paid in state pensions to British expatriates in each overseas country in each year from 1997 to 2008.

Angela Eagle: The information requested is not available, as nationality is not routinely held on our statistical data sources. Information on state pensions paid overseas, irrespective of nationality, can be found in the DWP pages on the internet (table SP2):
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/historical_overseas.xls

Winter Fuel Payments

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in St Albans constituency  (a) over the age of 60,  (b) over the age of 80 and  (c) in total received a winter fuel payment in each of the last three years.

Angela Eagle: The number of individuals that received a winter fuel payment in St. Albans constituency, in each of the last three years are as follows:
	
		
			   (a) Number of individuals aged 60 to 79  (b) Number of individuals aged 80 and over  (c) Total number of individuals 
			 2006-07 13,570 3,450 17,020 
			 2007-08 13,930 3,580 17,510 
			 2008-09 14,190 3,690 17,880 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 for years. 2. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.  Source: DWP Information Directorate 100 per cent. data

Winter Fuel Payments

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much her Department has spent on winter fuel payments in each year since 2005.

Angela Eagle: The information is in the following table:
	
		
			  Expenditure on winter fuel payments 
			  £ million 
			   Outturn  Provisional outturn 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Expenditure 1,982 2,015 2,071 2,694 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are for Great Britain. 2. Figures are rounded to the nearest million. 3. Figures include additional payments made in 2008-09 of £50 for 60-79 year-olds and £100 for over 80 year olds.  Source: DWP benefit expenditure tables, Table 3 http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/alltables_Budget2009_Values.xls

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many British  (a) citizens and  (b) residents have been captured by (i) British and (ii) coalition forces in Afghanistan in each province in each year since 2001;
	(2)  how many British citizens and residents captured in Afghanistan have subsequently been charged with a crime; how many were released without charge; and how many have been detained without charge;
	(3)  how long on average British citizens and residents captured by British and coalition forces in Afghanistan since 2001 have been detained; and in which countries they have been detained;
	(4)  how many British citizens and residents captured in Afghanistan and subsequently charged with a crime remain in custody.

Bob Ainsworth: No UK citizens or residents have been captured by British forces in Afghanistan since 2001.
	Her Majesty's Government are aware of six UK citizens captured by coalition forces in Afghanistan since 2001, all of whom were subsequently transferred to Guantanamo Bay. None of these individuals were charged with a crime and all have since been released without charge. The average period of detention by coalition forces, including time spent at Guantanamo Bay, for these individuals was approximately two and a half years.
	It is not possible to be specific about the number of UK residents captured by coalition forces. When detained an individual will be asked their nationality, not their country of residence, and may choose not to offer this information. It should also be noted that coalition forces are not obliged to inform us of when they detain a non-UK national; therefore, we may not be informed when a British resident has been detained. Furthermore, while an individual may have resided in the UK it will not always be possible to determine whether they were lawfully resident. For this reason, any figure we give cannot be definitive. We are, however, aware of at least one UK resident captured by coalition forces in Afghanistan since 2001, and who was subsequently transferred to Guantanamo Bay where he remains detained without charge.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel have been  (a) killed and  (b) seriously wounded in Afghanistan in each year since UK forces entered Helmand province; and how many such casualties were caused by (i) roadside or other pre-positioned devices and (ii) enemy fire in combat.

Bob Ainsworth: The MOD is committed to openly publishing casualty statistics on the number of service personnel killed and wounded on operations. Information on casualties sustained since January 2006 in Afghanistan and information on how each individual was killed is included in their eulogies available on our website
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/FactSheets/OperationsFactsheets
	We do not disclose information on how casualties are injured as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Armed Forces: Housing

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the detailed analysis of the net profit and loss accrued from the management of Service Families' Accommodation by Defence Estates in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: The main constituents of income and expenditure in relation to the management of Service Families Accommodation within the UK for the financial years (FY) 2006-07 to 2008-09 are provided in the following table. Comparable and consistent data prior to FY 2006-07 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Actual 
			   2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Service and rental charges to Annington Homes 146 152 150 
			 Service and rental charges to PFI contractors 21 23 24 
			 Charge in lieu of council tax (CILOCT) 51 53 59 
			 Maintenance costs for reactive, pre-planned maintenance and the strategic facilities programme 136 147 126 
			 Upgrade programme costs to upgrade properties to standard 1 condition 19 30 40 
			 Substitute accommodation provided through open market rental and bulk leasing 18 18 23 
			 Staff costs 19 16 17 
			 Gross cost 410 439 439 
			 Income received from occupants for the property and CILOCT (125) (129) (138) 
			 Net cost to MOD 285 310 301 
		
	
	Accurate and consistent data for overseas Service Family Accommodation is not held centrally.

Armed Forces: Housing

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what the average monthly rent is for properties rented under the substitute single living accommodation scheme;
	(2)  how many  (a) civil servants and  (b) military personnel participate in the substitute single living accommodation scheme.

Kevan Jones: Substitute Service Single Accommodation (SSSA) is provided to members of the armed forces in cases where no single living accommodation is available at or near their permanent duty station. As at 23 October 2009, we rented 5,100 SSSA properties across the UK at an average monthly rent of £738.93.
	These were occupied by 6,376 entitled Service personnel. The scheme does not extend to civilian personnel.

Armed Forces: Housing

Ben Wallace: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who is entitled to assistance under the substitute single living accommodation scheme.

Kevan Jones: All single and married unaccompanied regular armed forces personnel are entitled to substitute service single accommodation (SSSA) when:
	There is no suitable single living accommodation available.
	They are expected to stay in the SSSA for at least six months and for not less than four nights each week.
	They are serving within the UK.

Armed Forces: Injuries

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many families of service personnel injured in combat overseas since 1997 have sought advice from his Department on welfare and support in  (a) England,  (b) the North East and  (c) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

Kevan Jones: This information is not held in the format requested and therefore it could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, following the formation of the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) in April 2007 the Veterans Welfare Service has proactively provided support to injured personnel as they leave the service and thereafter. In addition the welfare organisations within the Army, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy also provide welfare support to injured personnel while they are still in service. The Veterans Welfare Service also provides support to the dependants of those who have died in service. The level of welfare support offered to the families of Service Personnel killed or injured is the same regardless of the cause or where it occurs. I have provided in the following tables data the SPVA Welfare Support Services hold on the support they have given in these circumstances.
	
		
			  Death in s ervice 
			  April to March each year  National 
			 2007-08 155 
			 2008-09 193 
			 Total 348 
		
	
	
		
			  Seriously injured 
			  April to March each year  National  England  North East 
			 2007-08 219 216 5 
			 2008-09 98 79 7 
			 Total 317 295 12 
		
	
	
		
			  Medical discharge 
			  April to March each year  National  England  North East 
			 2007-08 614 513 45 
			 2008-09 836 677 41 
			 Total 1,450 1,190 86

Armed Forces: Meat

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence from which countries  (a) beef,  (b) pork,  (c) chicken,  (d) lamb and  (e) bacon has been procured for consumption by military personnel in each of the last three years.

Quentin Davies: Catering, Retail and Leisure (CRL) contracts are being introduced across the UK, which include the feeding of service personnel living in UK units. These account for around 60 per cent. of service personnel fed. CRL incorporates pay as you dine arrangements, the responsibility for food procurement is therefore passed to the CRL contractor and data are not held in the format requested.
	For UK armed forces personnel in barracks (when personnel are not being fed under the CRL contracts), and those serving on operations and overseas exercises, there is a single food supply contract for which the following information is available:
	
		
			  Meat  Country of origin 
			 Beef UK, Uruguay, Brazil, New Zealand/Australia and other EU 
			 Pork UK 
			 Chicken UK, Brazil and other EU 
			 Lamb UK, Uruguay and New Zealand/Australia 
			 Bacon, including Gammon UK and other EU 
		
	
	The county of origin given in the table is for the current financial year. Historical data relating to the country of origin are not held.

Armed Forces: Training

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how much expenditure is expected to be saved through training of each Territorial Army  (a) squadron and  (b) battalion;
	(2)  what estimate has been made of the likely effect of reductions in Territorial Army (TA) training on numbers of TA personnel;
	(3)  how much expenditure is expected to be saved as a result of the proposed reduction in Territorial Army training; and how those savings were calculated.

Bill Rammell: As the Secretary of State for Defence announced on 28 October 2009,  Official Report, column 354W, having listened to the representations both in Parliament and elsewhere, the Government have decided to provide an additional £20 million to the Army this year to enable routine training for the TA to continue.

Army

Willie Rennie: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) brigadiers and  (b) generals were on the active list in the Army in each year since 1997.

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many generals of each rank there are in the Army.

Bill Rammell: The number of Brigadiers and Generals in the Army at 1 April each year since 1997 is provided in the following table.
	The ranks of Lt General and Major General have also been included in the table for clarity.
	
		
			  Number 
			   Paid rank 
			  1 April  General  Lt General  Major General  Brigadier 
			 1997 5 10 43 170 
			 1998 5 10 41 180 
			 1999 6 7 48 180 
			 2000 7 8 47 180 
			 2001 6 8 42 190 
			 2002 6 9 37 180 
			 2003 6 10 46 180 
			 2004 6 10 42 180 
			 2005 7 11 46 180 
			 2006 8 9 43 180 
			 2007 (1)6 (1)12 (1)42 (1)180 
			 2008 (1)6 (1)16 (1)44 (1)180 
			 1 April 2009 (1)5 (1)17 (1)43 (1)190 
			 (1) Provisional.   Notes:  1. The figures are for trained Regular Army only and therefore exclude Gurkhas, Home Service battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment, Full Time Reserve Service, Mobilised Reserves, TA and all other Reserves.  2. Due to the implementation of the new Joint Personnel Administration System all Army data from 1 April 2007 are provisional and subject to review.  3. Figures less than 100 have been left unrounded so as not to obscure the data.  4. These figures are published regularly in TSP 9 which is available at: www.dasa.mod.uk 
		
	
	This information is held in the House of Commons Library.

Departmental Official Visits

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much on average it cost his Department to provide overnight accommodation for  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials travelling (i) in the UK and (ii) overseas in an official capacity in the latest period for which figures are available.

Kevan Jones: The information requested can be found at the following link:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/propriety_and_ethics/ministers.aspx
	The list includes the total cost of each visit made by all Ministers, detailing the number of officials accompanying them where non-scheduled travel was used, including travel and accommodation. These details are available for the last two financial years and prior to this the information is published for Cabinet Ministers only.
	There is not a Cabinet Office requirement for Departments to report ministerial UK travel expenditure. The MOD records this information on the Department's claims and financial systems, however, the data is not held in the requested format. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fraud

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many employees of his Department were convicted of an offence of fraud in each of the last 10 years.

Bill Rammell: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Gibraltar: Warships

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) Royal Navy ships and  (b) foreign military ships have docked in Gibraltar in each of the last three years.

Bill Rammell: The number of ships that have docked in Gibraltar Naval Base in each of the last three complete years is provided as follows:
	2006: 72 Royal Navy and seven foreign
	2007: 59 Royal Navy and seven foreign
	2008: 52 Royal Navy and 12 foreign
	2009: As of 28 October 2009, there have been 51 Royal Navy and five foreign naval visits.

Helicopter Carriers

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when HMS Ocean is expected to leave service with the fleet.

Bill Rammell: On present planning assumptions, HMS Ocean will be withdrawn from service in 2022.

Nuclear Weapons

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason his Department has removed from public access at the National Archives papers on the Nuclear Weapons programme which had previously been released.

Bill Rammell: Since 2002 a small number of departmental nuclear files have been recalled, re-reviewed and found to have included papers relevant to the operation of the current UK deterrent or of possible proliferation concern. With the agreement of the Lord Chancellor and his Advisory Council, a small amount of material has subsequently been removed from the files and retained within the Department.

RAF Welford

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for North Devon of 30 April 2009,  Official Report, column 1408W, on RAF Welford: security, on what date Ministry of Defence Police are expected to withdraw from RAF Welford.

Bill Rammell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 17 November 2008,  Official Report, column 153W. The Ministry of Defence police will not be withdrawn from RAF Welford until the necessary security enhancements have been put in place at the base by the United States visiting force. I will write to the hon. Member once this has been done and place a copy of the letter in the Library of the House.

RAF Welford

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the costs of maintaining a complement of Ministry of Defence Police at RAF Welford were in the latest quarter for which figures are available; and who met those costs.

Bill Rammell: Release of these costs would provide information on the level of policing at RAF Welford. I am therefore withholding this information for the purpose of safeguarding national security. However, I can confirm that the cost of maintaining a Ministry of Defence Police presence at this site falls to the MOD Police and Guarding Agency.

Territorial Army

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who his senior military adviser on the Territorial Army is; and at what rank that advisor serves.

Bill Rammell: The Chief of the General Staff, General Sir David Richards, is the senior military adviser on all Army matters, including the Territorial Army.

Type 45 Destroyers

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reason no Minister was present at the launch of the Type 45 destroyer Defender on 21 October 2009.

Kevan Jones: I regret that a Minister was not in attendance; this was due to a range of factors, including unforeseen urgent parliamentary business. However, the launch was attended by a number of senior personnel, led by the Commander-in-Chief Fleet.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Community Relations: Finance

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 23 April 2009,  Official Report, column 872W, on community relations: finance, how much funding each organisation will receive from the Community Leadership Fund in  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11.

Shahid Malik: The Community Leadership Fund allocations for 2009-10 and 2010-11 broken down by organisation are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			  Organisation  2009-10  2010-11 
			 Al-Khoei Foundation 30,000.00 0.00 
			 Al-Manaar 50,000.00 50,000.00 
			 Ashram Housing Association 100,000.00 50,000.00 
			 Bold Creative 60,000.00 70,000.00 
			 Bradford Police Club 30,000.00 30,000.00 
			 British Muslim Forum 13,495 0.00 
			 Business in the Community 50,000.00 0.00 
			 Chiltern District Council 3,000.00 0.00 
			 Citizenship Foundation 50,000.00 40,000.00 
			 Dervish Arts 20,000.00 0.00 
			 Ethnic Minority Benevolent Association 50,000.00 50,000.00 
			 Faith Matters (three separate projects) 182,337.50 0.00 
			 Gateshead Interfaith Forum 9,925.00 0.00 
			 GW Theatre 76,600.00 75,200.00 
			 Halton Borough Council 3,000.00 0.00 
			 Henna Foundation 52,525.00 68,250.00 
			 Kali 14,856.66 13,300.00 
			 Karimia Institute 50,000.00 50,000.00 
			 Khayaal Theatre 126,771.00 73,822.00 
			 League of British Muslims 25,000.00 25,000.00 
			 London Metropolitan University 60,000.00 0.00 
			 Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board 58,000.00 0.00 
			 Muslim Welfare Association 3,000.00 0.00 
			 Muslim Women's Network UK 20,000.00 30,000.00 
			 Muslim Youth Helpline 61,888.00 64,767.00 
			 Rahabar Trust with the Urdu Times 22,500.00 12,500.00 
			 Somali Family Support Group 15,645.00 33,780.00 
			 The Dialogue Society 33,850.00 32,700.00 
			 The Prince's Trust 52,000.00 54,000.00 
			 Three Faiths Forum 15,000.00 0.00 
			 Timebank (One20) 60,000.00 50,000.00 
			 Ulfah Arts 10,000.00 20,000.00 
			 Unity FM 38,760.00 33,760.00 
			 Urban Nexus 94,400.00 72,100.00 
			 Yorkshire and Humber BME Panel 30,000.00 25,000.00 
			 Zakat Trust (Islamic Society of Britain) 20,000.00 0.00 
			 Zakat Trust (Young Muslims UK) 20,000.00 0.00 
			 Total 1,612,553.16 1,024,179.00

Community Relations: Finance

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2009,  Official Report, column 479W, on community relations, how much his Department plans to spend on each type of national Prevent-related project in  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11; and how much funding each organisation undertaking such projects will receive for that work in each such year.

Shahid Malik: The Department supports Prevent-related national projects in a number of areas including: building community resilience; engaging and empowering young Muslims and Muslim women; local partnerships and delivery; faith capacity and leadership; communications; research and evaluation.
	Specific national projects supporting these areas of work and how much the Department plans to spend on these in 2009-10 and 2010-11 is listed as follows:
	
		
			  Specific project  Organisation  Funding in 2009-10 (£)  Funding in 2010-11 (£) 
			 Contextualising Islam in Britain Cambridge University 56,500 n/a 
			 Islam and Citizenship Education (this is CLG's contribution. DCSF have also contributed jointly) School Development and Support Agency 60,000 75,000 
			 Radical Middle Way (RMW) RMW 275,000 TBA 
			 Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board (MINAB) MINAB 208,000 TBA 
			 FSCU (Charity Commission) Charity Commission 300,000 TBA 
			 Piloting of the minimum standards for Muslim chaplains engaged by public institutions Faith Matters 64,130 n/a 
			 Muslim Faith Leader Training Review Gloucestershire University 159,850 n/a 
			 Improvement and Development Agency, Peer support and review IDeA 316,518 TBA 
			 Capacity building grant to help improve local Prevent delivery Government Offices 750,000 750,000 
			 Creative Partnerships to promote positive alternative activities for young people Creative Partnerships 250,000 250,000 
			 Communications toolkit for local partners: to support delivery of local Prevent communications Bold Creative 20,000 n/a 
			  National research projects:
			 (a) Qualitative pilot Ethnos 52,065 n/a 
			 (b) Literature review Office for Public Management (OPM) 18,345 n/a 
			 (c) Understanding trends within Islam Community Relations Initiative Ipsos MORI/BMRM Consortium 8,130 n/a 
			 (d) Citizenship Survey - - - 
			  National Muslim Womens Advisory Group: supporting three projects:
			 (a) Role modelling Equal to the Occasion 61,980 20,150 
			 (b) Civic participation Political Skills Forum 35,910 TBA 
			 (c) Examining the role of women from a theological perspective TBA TBA TBA 
			 Young Muslims Advisory Group Office for Public Management (OPM) 164,883 50,850 
			 Rapid Evaluation Assessment De Montfort University 42,320 n/a 
			 Building community resilience through the Community Leadership Fund Full list of organisations listed in  Hansard: HL3068; answered 30 April 2009,  Official Report, column WA44 1,569,485 1,024,179

Council Tax: East of England

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average change in the level of council tax from one year to the next has been in each county in the East of England in each year since 1999.

Barbara Follett: Details of the year-on-year change in average Band D council tax for the six county councils in the East of England region are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ 
			   2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Bedfordshire 52 52 91 122 92 59 66 61 64 - 
			 Cambridgeshire 62 58 106 97 86 54 59 62 64 56 
			 Essex 60 63 86 155 67 40 57 58 58 35 
			 Hertfordshire 57 49 83 163 67 57 59 63 61 49 
			 Norfolk 51 59 93 149 75 39 62 64 59 46 
			 Suffolk 55 57 108 182 53 36 56 57 59 39 
		
	
	The figures are calculated from data reported on the Budget Requirement (BR1 and BR2) forms submitted annually by all billing and precepting authorities in England.
	No figure is given for Bedfordshire for 2009-10 as, following the reorganisation of councils in that county from 1 April 2009, Bedfordshire county council ceased to exist.
	The underlying data used in calculating the annual change are calculated by dividing the sum of the council tax requirement for all billing and precepting authorities in the county area by the average Band D council taxbase for the county. No unitary authorities were included in the calculations and the data also exclude the element of the police and fire authority council tax requirement for the unitary authority areas.

Council Tax: Valuation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities in  (a) the East of England and  (b) the West Midlands provide details of (i) building control commencement lists and (ii) building control completion notices to the Valuation Office Agency; and whether the Valuebill/e-BAR interface is used in each case.

Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
	Tables showing which local authorities within  (a) the East of England and  (b) the West Midlands regions of England have provided building control commencement lists and building control completion notices to the Valuation Office Agency are shown in the following tables.
	The Valuebill/e-BAR interface is not used for the submission of building control commencement lists or building control completion notices.
	
		
			  (a) East 
			  BA  Commencement lists  Completion notices 
			 Thurrock Yes Yes 
			 Southend on Sea Yes Yes 
			 Harlow Yes Yes 
			 Epping Forest Yes Yes 
			 Brentwood Yes Yes 
			 Basildon Yes Yes 
			 Castle Point No Yes 
			 Rochford Yes Yes 
			 Maldon Yes Yes 
			 Chelmsford Yes Yes 
			 Uttlesford No No 
			 Braintree Yes Yes 
			 Colchester Yes Yes 
			 Tendring No Yes 
			 Norwich No Yes 
			 South Norfolk Yes Yes 
			 Great Yarmouth No Yes 
			 Broadland Yes Yes 
			 North Norfolk Yes Yes 
			 Kings Lynn and West Norfolk Yes Yes 
			 Breckland No Yes 
			 Ipswich No Yes 
			 Suffolk Coastal Yes Yes 
			 Waverney No No 
			 Mid Suffolk No No 
			 Barbergh Yes Yes 
			 St. Edmundsbury Yes Yes 
			 Forest Heath No Yes 
			 Three Rivers No No 
			 Watford Yes Yes 
			 Hertsmere Yes Yes 
			 Welwyn Hatfield No No 
			 Broxbourne No No 
			 East Hertfordshire No No 
			 Stevenage Yes Yes 
			 North Hertfordshire No No 
			 St. Albans No No 
			 Dacorum No No 
			 Luton No No 
			 Bedford No No 
			 Central Bedfordshire No No 
			 Cambridge No Yes 
			 South Cambridgeshire No Yes 
			 Peterborough No Yes 
			 East Cambridgeshire No Yes 
			 Fenland No Yes 
			 Huntingdonshire No Yes 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) West Midlands 
			  BA  Commencement lists  Completion notices 
			 Bromsgrove Yes Yes 
			 Wyre Forest Yes Yes 
			 Dudley Yes Yes 
			 Redditch Yes Yes 
			 Worcester Yes Yes 
			 Wychavon No No 
			 Herefordshire Yes Yes 
			 Malvern Hills Yes Yes 
			 Shropshire No No 
			 Telford and Wrekin Yes Yes 
			 East Staffs Yes Yes 
			 Lichfield Yes Yes 
			 Newcastle Yes Yes 
			 Stafford Yes Yes 
			 Staffs Moorlands Yes Yes 
			 Tamworth Yes Yes 
			 Stoke Yes Yes 
			 Cannock Chase Yes. Yes. 
			 South Staffs No No 
			 Walsall No No 
			 Wolverhampton Yes Yes 
			 North Warwickshire Yes No 
			 Nuneaton and Bedworth No No 
			 Rugby No No 
			 Stratford-upon-Avon No No 
			 Warwick No Yes 
			 Birmingham Currently no but about to restart No 
			 Coventry No Yes 
			 Sandwell No Yes 
			 Solihull Yes No

Council Tax: Valuation

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether the Valuation Office Agency takes into account a nearby Traveller encampment as a potential material consideration when valuing a dwelling for council tax purposes.

Barbara Follett: If a Traveller encampment was in existence on 1 April 1993 (or 1 April 2005 in Wales), or was set up after that date and can be said to have changed the physical state of the locality, it is a factor that can be taken into account when determining the council tax bands of other dwellings, providing that the existence of the camp is not transient.

Departmental Cost Effectiveness

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps his Department is taking to implement the efficiency recommendations within the Operational Efficiency Programme; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: My Department is fully engaged in delivering the Operational Efficiency Programme's (OEP) agenda and is harnessing the support of our arm's length bodies to do so.
	As recommended by the OEP report I have been appointed VfM Minister for the Department.
	The Department has made good progress in considering the key benchmarks to drive performance improvement in back office functions as recommended in the OEP report and is awaiting the publication of that information. It is also well engaged with the collaborative procurement agenda, and has established its own Collaborative Procurement Forum. My Department is represented on the OGC's collaborative procurement steering group which reviews this type of activity in the wider public sector, including the local authorities.

Departmental Telephone Services

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many help lines his Department operates; and how much his Department and its predecessor have received from the operation of such help lines in each of the last three years.

Barbara Follett: The Department for Communities and Local Government do not have a specific helpline. However, it does have a public inquiry line which is a contracted non-automated service. Calls to this line are charged at national rates and no income is derived by the Department from these calls.

Departmental Telephone Services

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will consider the merits of securing accreditation of his Department's helplines to the Helplines Association's quality standard; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: The Department for Communities and Local Government does not have any plans to secure accreditation of its telephone information lines to the Helplines Association's quality standard. At present, the Department has no helplines although it does have a public inquiry service which responds to general inquiries made to the Department. However, we are continually seeking to improve the levels of service we provide to the public, and will investigate the benefits of such accreditation.

Fire Services: Pensions

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2009,  Official Report, column 585W, on fire services: pensions, when he expects the Government Actuary's report on firefighters' pension schemes to be published.

Barbara Follett: The Government Actuary's report on the firefighters' pension schemes will be issued to the Firefighters' Pension Committee in advance of its meeting on 18 November. Copies will be available from that date also on the Communities and Local Government website, and be placed in the Library.

Housing: Lighting

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a copy of the report on the research commissioned by his Department on the proportion of domestic light fittings which will operate with compact fluorescent lamps.

Barbara Follett: The Department has not commissioned research on the proportion of domestic light fittings which will operate with compact fluorescent lamps.

Local Government Finance: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how much Tamworth borough council raised in council tax revenue in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how much Tamworth borough council received from central Government in cash terms in each of the last six years;
	(3)  what the ratio between central Government funding and council tax revenue for Tamworth borough council was in each of the last eight years.

Barbara Follett: The information requested on central Government grant in cash terms, the council tax requirement and the ratio between central Government grant and the council tax requirement in each of the last eight years is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Tamworth borough council 
			   Central Government grant (£000)  Council tax requirement (£000)  Ratio 
			 2001-02 4,973 2,055 2.42 
			 2002-03 5,135 2,219 2.31 
			 2003-04 6,137 2,383 2.58 
			 2004-05 5,623 2,570 2.19 
			 2005-06 6,523 2,726 2.39 
			 2006-07 7,460 2,865 2.60 
			 2007-08 7,615 3,040 2.50 
			 2008-09(1) 7,823 3,203 2.44 
			 (1 )Provisional outturn,  Source: Communities and local government revenue outturn (RO) returns 
		
	
	Local authority council tax requirement is the council tax available to finance revenue expenditure, not council tax collected.
	Central Government grant is defined here as the sum of formula grant (revenue support grant and redistributed non-domestic rates) and specific grants inside aggregate external finance (AEF), i.e. revenue grants paid for council's core services. For 2008-09 it also includes area based grant (ABG).
	Figures exclude grants outside AEF (i.e. where funding is not for authorities' core services, but is passed to a third party, for example, rent allowances and rebates), capital grants, funding for the local authorities' housing management responsibilities and those grant programmes (such as European funding) where authorities are simply one of the recipients of funding paid towards an area.
	Comparisons across years may not be valid owing to changing local authority responsibilities.

Migration Impact Fund

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 9 July 2009,  Official Report, column 50WS, on the migration impacts fund, how much the levy charged on each individual migrant will be; whether it will apply to  (a) EU nationals,  (b) EEA nationals not in the EU,  (c) A2 nationals,  (d) A8 nationals and  (e) asylum seekers; and in what circumstances in each case migrants will be (i) required to pay and (ii) exempted from paying.

Phil Woolas: I have been asked to reply.
	Migrants pay a contribution to the migration impacts fund when making visa applications and in-country extensions of leave to remain on all routes under PBS Tiers 1, Tier 2, Tier 4, the Settlement Route, Leave to Remain, Indefinite Leave to Remain and Nationality. The fund contribution is £50 per applicant. For applicants making a Tier 4 visa application the contribution is £20.
	EU nationals, EEA nationals not in the EU, A2 nationals, A8 nationals and asylum seekers do not pay a contribution towards the Migrant Impacts Fund when making an application for leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain.
	All applicants, including EU nationals, EEA nationals not in the EU, A2 nationals, A8 nationals and asylum seekers, pay a £50 contribution towards the migration impacts fund when making an application for British nationality.

Mortgages: Government Assistance

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many people in Birmingham, Northfield constituency have  (a) applied for and  (b) been granted assistance under the Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme; and if he will make a statement.

John Healey: Homeowners Mortgage Support is part of the range of assistance available at every stage to households struggling with their mortgage. The scheme encourages lenders to allow households who have suffered a temporary income shock to defer some of their interest payment, if this is necessary to make their monthly payment affordable. The Department plans to publish information in December on the number of households who have been helped through Homeowners Mortgage Support. Statistics from the Financial Services Authority show that more than 135,000 borrowers were benefiting from forbearance offered by their lender at the end of June 2009, an increase of 17 per cent. on the previous quarter.

Non-Domestic Rates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for what reasons business revaluation transitional relief will not apply to supplementary business rates from April 2010.

Barbara Follett: Transitional relief is provided to limit and phase in significant increases in business rate liability resulting from the regular five yearly revaluation of business rates. The majority of business properties-60 per cent.-will see their rates liability fall as a result of the 2010 revaluation. The minority facing large increases will benefit from £2 billion worth of transitional relief.
	Transitional relief is a national scheme which is funded by other business ratepayers. Extending it to increases resulting from the introduction of a local business rate supplement would raise the possibility of ratepayers in parts of the country, where rateable values have gone down as a result of revaluation, being asked to pay for relief on an increase which does not result from revaluation but is, instead, the result of a local business rate supplement that is not being levied in their area and, therefore, not bringing any benefits to them.
	Any increase in a ratepayer's liability due to a local decision to levy a supplement on the business rate to fund additional projects to promote the economic development of the local area is independent of revaluation 2010. Transitional relief is not, and has never been, intended to target increases in liability resulting from factors other than revaluation-for instance, increases resulting from a property's rateable value rising above the rateable value thresholds which determine whether it is eligible for other rate reliefs, or whether it is liable to pay a local supplement on the national non-domestic rate. Where a local authority exercises its discretionary power to levy a business rate supplement, it has discretion to set the rateable value threshold below which a property is exempt from paying the supplement anywhere above a minimum of £50,000 rateable value.

Non-Domestic Rates

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) of 16 October 2009,  Official Report, column 1131W, on non-domestic rates, whether the 2010-11 multipliers which will take into account the 2010 revaluation and negative level of Retail Price Index inflation will be adjusted to entail a cash terms  (a) reduction in overall tax yield,  (b) freeze in the overall tax yield and  (c) increase in the overall tax yield; and what his most recent estimate is of the level of business rates tax yield in 2010-11.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 26 October 2009
	The multipliers are set in accordance with Schedule 7 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 and the increases in the business rates multipliers each year are capped by the previous September's RPI. Under the same legislation, the multipliers will also be adjusted to ensure that the overall tax yield does not increase as a result of the 2010 revaluation. The Government have no plans to amend the way that the multipliers are calculated.
	The most recent estimate of business rates gross revenue for 2010-11 is £23,445,000,000. This is consistent with the figure in the consultation document The transitional arrangements for the non-domestic rating revaluation, published on July 8, 2009. The document can be found on the CLG website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/nndrrevaluation2010
	This is a broad estimate and does not take account of the impact that the September RPI inflation will have on the multipliers, transitional relief or any other reliefs applicable to businesses.
	The five-yearly business rates revaluations make sure each business pays its fair contribution and no more by ensuring the share of the national rates bill paid by any one business reflects changes over time in the value of their property relative to others. The 2010 revaluation will not raise a single extra penny for Government.
	Over a million properties will see their business rate liabilities come down as a result of revaluation. The Government intend to put in place a £2 billion relief scheme to limit the impact on the minority with bill increases. This is on top of the wider support available to help ease business pressures including discounted rate bills for small businesses and deferring tax payments.

Non-Domestic Rates: Empty Property

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 13 July 2009,  Official Report, column 131W, on non-domestic rates: empty property, whether the rateable value threshold for empty property rate relief of £2,200 will be increased to reflect the average uplift in rateable values consequent on the 2010 business rates revaluation.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 2 November 2009
	 The Government have already announced that the rateable value thresholds for small business rate relief, rural rate relief and stud farm relief will be increased in line with the overall effect of the revaluation from 1 April 2010 and will make an announcement on the rateable value threshold for empty property rates later this year.

Planning Permission: Appeals

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what criteria are applied in cases where he personally intervenes to fix a date for an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.

Ian Austin: Procedural guidance on inquiries is on the Planning Portal website:
	http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/pins/procedural_guidance_planning_appeals.pdf
	A Good Practice Advice Note on bespoke casework is also on the Planning Portal website:
	http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/pins/pins-gpa-5-2009 bespoke-casework.pdf

Police: Pay

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the salaries of senior local authority officers will be published; and if he will make a statement.

Barbara Follett: New legislation requiring disclosure of senior salaries in local authorities will come into force on March 31 2010, requiring detailed disclosure of remuneration in the statement of account for 2009-10 onwards. The government's response to the statutory consultation was published on October 22 2009 and can be found on the CLG website:
	www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/1364495

Roads: Lighting

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the potential effect on  (a) energy usage and  (b) expenditure of the installation of environmentally-friendly LED street lights.

Dan Norris: I have been asked to reply.
	No analysis has been carried out specifically to estimate the energy usage and cost of LED street lighting. However, DEFRA is in the process of updating its 2008 consultation on sustainable products. The consultation is published via the Government's Market Transformation Programme and more information is available on its website at:
	www.mtprog.com/cms/whitepaper
	The updated paper includes a section on the energy efficiency of street and traffic lighting and will be published shortly for consultation.

Tenant Services Authority

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the Tenant Services Authority will cease operating under the legal powers granted to the Housing Corporation.

Ian Austin: We are working towards commencing the Tenant Services Authority's new powers under the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 on 1 April 2010.

Tenant Services Authority: Public Consultation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what date the statutory consultation on the Tenant Services Authority's standards framework will commence; and how long he expects it to last.

Ian Austin: The Statutory consultation on TSA's standards framework is due to commence this month. It is expected to run for 12 weeks.

Tony Clements

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) of 16 July 2009,  Official Report, column 656W, on Tony Clements, whether Mr. Clements was appointed to the post as Policy Adviser through a process of open competition; whether the job vacancy filled by Mr. Clements was advertised on the public part of the Civil Service Recruitment Gateway; and whether his position is subject to standard Civil Service terms and conditions.

Barbara Follett: Mr. Clements was recruited through a fixed-term appointment, under one of the permitted exceptions for fair and open competition contained in the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Principles. There is no automatic requirement to advertise such appointments through open competition or on the public part of the Civil Service Recruitment Gateway, and this post was not advertised through either route. This position is subject to standard Civil Service terms and conditions.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

House of Commons: Offices

Douglas Carswell: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission 
	(1)  how many unutilised square metres of office space there were on the House of Commons part of the parliamentary estate in each year since the opening of the 2005 Parliament;
	(2)  how many empty offices there are on the House of Commons part of the parliamentary estate.

Nick Harvey: The number of vacant rooms on the House of Commons estate fluctuates constantly as requirements change or maintenance work is carried out. Only records of current vacancies are maintained.
	At present there are 14 unoccupied offices on the estate with a total area of 230m(2). Six of these offices are vacant to enable major roof works to take place in the area known as the Yellow Submarine north of Speaker's Court.
	There are 2,100m(2) of, open plan offices leased in No. 4 Millbank for use as decant space. Of this, 500m(2) is currently vacant, awaiting fit-out.
	There are also 2,800m(2) of vacant, open plan space which is the House of Commons' area of No. 14 Tothill street, a building leased in October 2007 and shared with the House of Lords. This area will be fitted out and available for use by the Department of Resources in autumn 2010.

Refreshment Department: Finance

John Hayes: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how much subsidy was provided for each  (a) eatery and  (b) bar in the House of Commons part of the Palace of Westminster in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the most recent estimate is of the level of usage of each such outlet by (A) hon. Members, (B) visitors, (C) hon. Members' staff and (D) House staff.

Nick Harvey: The House does not provide a subsidy for individual eateries and bars. In 2008-09 the overall net cost incurred by the catering and retail directorate in the Department of Facilities was some £6.1 million, in accordance with the budget approved by the Finance and Services Committee. This represents the difference between income and the cost of the services provided. Food and drink pricing is agreed by the Finance and Services Committee, with advice from the Administration Committee.
	With the exception of the Terrace cafeteria and the Debate self-service restaurant, no information is kept on the level of usage of each outlet by different types of pass holders. An annual survey is conducted in the Terrace cafeteria and the Debate self-service restaurant in order to assess the customer profile over a peak-lunch period. The last survey was held in May 2009, when usage of these outlets was as follows:
	
		
			  Customer group  Terrace cafeteria  The Debate 
			   Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			  (a) MPs 90 10 107 8 
			  (b) Visitors (accompanied guests) 52 6 98 7 
			  (c) MPs' Staff 146 16 580 43 
			  (d) Staff of both Houses/Security/other full pass-holders 499 56 401 30 
			  (e) Member House of Lord 21 2 9 1 
			  (f) Members' Staff (House of Lords) 16 2 45 3 
			  (g) Press  Media 21 2 5 - 
			  (h) Other 50 6 104 8 
			 Total 895 100 1,349 100

HOME DEPARTMENT

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offenders have received an anti-social behaviour order plus sentence upon conviction in England in the last three years.

David Hanson: Information on the number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued is available up to 31 December 2007. The number of ASBOs issued following conviction for a criminal offence at all courts in England during 2005, 2006 and 2007 were 2,684; 1,671 and 1,228 respectively.

Asylum

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of  (a) asylum applications and  (b) applications for leave to remain were successful in each of the last five years; what percentage of applications of each type which were refused were then granted following an appeal in each of those years; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Data on the number of applications for asylum and leave to remain and applications refused are available in the Home Office statistical bulletin Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom, 2008. This publication and future publications may be obtained from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html

Asylum Seekers

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether enforced returns were suspended for any period of time for nationals or particular groups of nationals from  (a) Iraq,  (b) Somalia,  (c) Eritrea,  (d) Democratic Republic of Congo,  (e) Afghanistan and  (f) Iran between 2000 and 2009.

Phil Woolas: The following information covers situations where there was a policy to suspend enforced returns and situations where there was a policy to grant Exceptional Leave to Remain (ELR) to all nationals of a particular country, or part of it, who did not qualify for asylum and which was an effective suspension of returns of failed asylum seekers.
	There was an effective suspension of enforced returns to all of Iraq from before 2000 until October 2000. From October 2000 until February 2003 returns to central and southern Iraq were suspended. From February 2003 enforced returns to all of Iraq were again suspended. On 24 February 2004 the Home Secretary announced that enforced returns to Iraq were to resume.
	There was an effective suspension of enforced returns to the whole of Somalia since before 2000 until July 2001. From July 2001 until October 2002 the policy was varied enabling return of those from the Somaliland and Puntland regions of Somalia. There has been no suspension of enforced returns to any part of Somalia since 7 October 2002.
	Enforced returns to Eritrea have not been suspended in this period.
	Enforced returns to the Democratic Republic of Congo were suspended from 23 August 2007 until 3 December 2008 pending the outcome of litigation.
	There was an effective suspension of enforced returns to Afghanistan from before 2000 until 11 July 2002. There has been no suspension of enforced returns since that date.
	Enforced returns to Iran have not been suspended in this period.

Asylum: Coventry

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people resident in Coventry were granted asylum in  (a) 2008 and  (b) 1997.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 27 October 2009
	The information is as follows.
	 (a) During the calendar year 2008, the midlands and east regional asylum team granted 76 cases where the main applicant resided at a Coventry postcode (which includes some of the geographical area in the surrounding county of Warwickshire). Grants of asylum may also have been made in other caseworking areas, but this additional data are not available in a specific regional format. The figure therefore only relates to applications which were handled through the regional asylum team.
	 (b) Data for specific geographical areas was not recorded prior to the implementation of the new asylum model process in March 2007. There are therefore no specific data for this calendar year.

Asylum: Young People

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress his Department has made on its programme to reform support for unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 27 October 2009
	The UASC Reform Programme set out a number of reforms to the way unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are supported. We are continuing to work with local authorities and others in a number of areas including:
	developing a model of grant arrangements that provides more clarity and certainty over funding;
	exploring improvements to the method and process for assessment age; and
	considering how UASC and former UASC might be returned to support arrangements in their countries of origin in a way that is safe and sustainable.
	The range of reforms and policy improvements we are making are being progressed and implemented at different stages.

Asylum: Young People

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of its grant to local authorities to meet the costs of unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people over the age of 16.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 27 October 2009
	We are satisfied the grant arrangements are adequate.
	Local authority costs in supporting unaccompanied asylum seeking children for the period up until the end of the financial year 2007-08 have been reimbursed in full as part of an agreement between the UK Border Agency and the Local Government Association (LGA). Funding claims for the financial year 2008-09 are still being checked. The grant for the financial year 2009-10 is very similar to the arrangements agreed with the LGA, with the exception that from October cash ceilings have been placed on indirect costs.

Cheshire Constabulary: Construction

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps  (a) Cheshire police and  (b) executive agencies of his Department are taking to (i) ensure that the supply chain completing the Pierse contracting construction project is paid and (ii) alleviate the financial problems of small and medium-sized businesses involved in that project.

David Hanson: The management of local contracts is a matter for the chief officer and chair of the police authority.

Cocaine

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what quantity of cocaine was seized at  (a) Gatwick and  (b) Heathrow airports in each month between April 2008 and March 2009.

Phil Woolas: From April 2008 until March 2009, a total of 1,158.42 kilos of cocaine were seized by UKBA officers working in the Border Force South Region, which includes Gatwick airport and all ports along the South Coast. During the same period a total of 434.23 kilos of cocaine were seized by UKBA officers in the Heathrow region.
	The following tables provide a monthly breakdown of these seizures.
	
		
			  South r egion 
			   Cocaine q uantity (kilos) 
			 April 2008 62.50 
			 May 2008 87.06 
			 June 2008 69.59 
			 July 2008 165.42 
			 August 2008 50.20 
			 September 2008 167.11 
			 October 2008 105.54 
			 November 2008 45.25 
			 December 2008 43.97 
			 January 2009 24.43 
			 February 2009 299.88 
			 March 2009 37.47 
			 Period total 1,158.42 
		
	
	
		
			  Heathrow r egion 
			   Cocaine q uantity (kilos) 
			 April 2008 26.16 
			 May 2008 30.31 
			 June 2008 77.08 
			 July 2008 45.53 
			 August 2008 32.91 
			 September 2008 18.25 
			 October 2008 44.54 
			 November 2008 78.35 
			 December 2008 16.37 
			 January 2009 18.60 
			 February 2009 24.87 
			 March 2009 21.27 
			 Period total 434.23 
		
	
	The above data have been extracted from locally-collated management information. It is provisional and therefore may be subject to change.

Crime: Nature Conservation

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding has been provided to each police authority to tackle wildlife crime in each year since 1997.

Alan Campbell: Total revenue provision for policing grants in 2009-10 is almost £9.5 billion, an overall increase of 2.8 per cent. over 2008-09. The main element is general formula grant (£8.3 billion), which can be spent entirely at the discretion of police authorities-so the amount they spend on tackling wildlife crime is their decision.
	Chief constables and police authorities have maximum flexibility to make best possible use of resources to maintain the historically high number of police officers and have the right workforce balance they need to deliver local priorities.
	The Home Office takes wildlife crime seriously and has contributed £150,000 in 2009-10 towards the costs of the National Wildlife Crime Unit, which provides expert support to forces in investigation and enforcement of wildlife crime.

Departmental Fraud

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many employees of his Department have been convicted of an offence related to fraud in each of the last 10 years.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 27 October 2009
	We are aware of 13 members of staff within Home Office HQ, the UK Border Agency, the Identity and Passport Service and the Criminal Records Bureau, who have been convicted of an offence relating to financial fraud in the last 10 years.
	A breakdown by year is as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2000 0 
			 2001 (1)- 
			 2002 (1)- 
			 2003 (1)- 
			 2004 (1)- 
			 2005 (1)- 
			 2006 (1)- 
			 2007 (1)- 
			 2008 (1)- 
			 2009 (to 22 October) (1)- 
			 (1) Less than five. 
		
	
	Where less than five members of staff were convicted in a calendar year further information has been withheld on confidentiality grounds.

Departmental Information and Communications Technology

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what IT systems have been in development for use within his Department in the last five years; what the reason for the development of each system was; how much has been spent on the development of each system; and which systems have been subsequently  (a) implemented,  (b) terminated prior to implementation and  (c) terminated following implementation.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  IT Systems in development for use within last five years  Reason for development of IT Systems  How much has been spent on development of IT Systems  IT Systems that have been implemented  IT Systems terminated prior to implementation  IT Systems terminated pos t  implementation 
			 National identity Scheme-IPS element Delivery of the Next Generation Passport and ID Services £4.945 billion planned total spend ( including IT Systems, IT enabled Business Transformation and operating costs.) Till 2013. Programme is on Schedule, with implementation phases from end 2009 to 2013. n/a n/a 
			 EPA2 project Upgrade online passport application process in 2006 £10.8 million capital and £1.9 million resource  Terminated prior to implementation 6 May 2007. n/a 
			 Interview Office Network IT Systems to support interview of first time passport applicants £13.2 million Planned Total Core IT system called ABIOS. Network Infrastructure to 68 ION offices, integration to existing Passport Processing system n/a n/a 
			 Digitisation of Vital Events Digitisation of General Register Office registration records £8.33 million total project cost Digitisation of approx 50 per cent. of registration records. Project now closed and a new project is being set-up to complete the digitisation work and to deliver an integrated technology suite. Records digitised in the DoVE project are currently being used by GRO for the production of certificates. n/a n/a 
			 Registration On-Line General Register Office System for recording birth, death, civil partnership and marriage registrations-used by GRO and Local Authorities. £17.6 million planned capital and set-up costs (projected through to 2011) The RON system has been rolled-out to all local authorities in England and Wales for civil partnerships, births and deaths. The marriage roll-out will commence in November 2009. n/a n/a 
			 Identity Cards for Foreign Nationals Infrastructure required to implement identity cards for foreign nationals, building on existing systems wherever possible £13.2 million-Planned total ongoing scheme November 2008 n/a n/a 
			   
			 Immigration Casework (ICW) Enable improvements to processing of immigration casework: specifically Improved efficiency Improve quality and consistency of decisions Improve the service provided Implement more flexible IT systems Programme Spend to date: £55 million. The first pilot releases went live on 31 March 2009 and 3 August 2009 (as planned) further releases (three per annum) are planned until 2014-15 n/a n/a 
			   Agreed Programme Spend by end of 2015-16: £370 million.
			   
			 Points Based System (PBS) PBS is a simplified one-stop migration process for those who wish to work, train or study in the UK. Prospective migrants are judged using objective criteria to ensure consistency. £39.8 million-Planned total to 2010 July 2009, next release is due October 2009. Final release scheduled for February 2010 n/a n/a 
			   
			 e-Borders E-Borders enables the UK Border Agency to check people before they reach the UK.. The planned cost to Government is £1.2 billion between financial years 2007-08 and 2017-18 Project IRIS, a pilot biometric automated barrier entry system for pre-registered passengers at selected ports in the UK was piloted from 20 June 2005 to May 2006. IRIS was transferred to operational business in July 2007. n/a n/a 
			  E-Borders protects the public, improving the security, efficiency and effectiveness of border controls by enabling us to target criminals and illegal immigrants  Project Semaphore, an operational prototype for the main e-Borders Programme which was transferred to operational business in April 2008.   
			The Joint Border Operations Centre (JBOC) went live in January 2005, as the operational hub of Project Semaphore. Responsibility for the operation of the JBOC was transferred to Intelligence and National Operations Command on 1 June 2008, but remains closely aligned to the UK's e-Borders programme. It continues to inform the design and development of e-Borders and to deliver operational benefits to stakeholders.   
			   
			 SBS Programme SBS built on the original ERP implementation programme to further enhance both the functionality and breadth of the Finance, HR and Procurement services in the Home Office for 23,000 users. £35.9 million total project cost till 2011 Expanded and enhanced enterprise resource planning (ERP) functionality, implemented in progressive releases between May 2008 and April 2009. n/a n/a 
			   
			 Vetting and Barring Scheme Modifications to the IT systems of the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) to support the vetting and barring scheme, established by the safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. New casework management systems. £22.8 million capital and set up costs planned over five years £20.3 million operational costs over five years. April 2009 n/a n/a 
			   £15.1 million expenditure to March 2009. Implementation is current and ongoing for these systems
			   
			 Next Generation IST Transformation Programme (NGISTT) To assist the Home Office Group to deliver its objectives by giving businesses the shared 1ST infrastructure and services they need to work together in the most productive and cost effective way and to safeguard their information assets. Spend to date is £3.12 million.  n/a n/a 
			   Planned investment (Extend and Blend) is £86 million. Future programme spend is yet to be determined.

Departmental Postal Services

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which companies are under contract to his Department to provide mail services; and when each such contract expires.

Phil Woolas: General mail services used by the Home Department are via the Royal Mail and the Government Car and Despatch Agency.
	Secure mail services for the Identity and Passport Service are contracted to DX Secure Mail Services. The contract expires in July 2010.
	Mail services for the Criminal Records Bureau are provided under the PPP Agreement for the Disclosure processing service with Capita Business Services which expires on 11 March 2012.
	The Department does not hold central courier contracts nor is information held centrally on all the couriers it uses. Services for TNT are contracted through the OGC framework for courier services, which expires in August 2012. Other firms which have been used by the Department or its agencies either regularly or from time to time include:
	Royal Mail Holdings plc
	Secure Mail Services
	Pitney Bowes Inc.
	FP Teleset
	A to Z Couriers Ltd.
	Dale Express Ltd.
	Kurier Ltd.
	Fiveways Express Transport Ltd.
	Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG
	Deutsche Post AG
	Government Car and Despatch Agency
	Neopost SA
	Bonds Worldwide Couriers
	The Courier and Passenger Transport Group Ltd.
	Postage by Phone
	Ing Groep N.V.
	Horley Couriers
	Panic Express Carriers
	Die Schweizerische Post
	Motor Cycle Despatch Services
	FP Executive Agency Ltd.
	Lewis Day Transport plc
	Kwik Kourier
	Parcelforce Worldwide
	CT (UK) Ltd. T/A City Couriers
	Netfold Ltd.
	UK Couriers (Liverpool) Ltd.
	A One Taxis
	Kanga Couriers
	Hobarts Acrylics Ltd.
	City Cabs
	Admail Holdings Ltd.
	Lightning Transport Group Ltd.
	Rico Logistics Partnership
	Central Despatch.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department is taking to implement the efficiency recommendations of the Operational Efficiency programme relating to his Department; and what training is available to  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department in respect of the delivery of value for money savings.

Phil Woolas: The Home Office is implementing the Operational Efficiency programme (OEP) as part of the Department's mainstream Value for Money programme. The Department has a strong record of delivery against value for money targets demonstrating its sustained, long term commitment to this work.
	The Home Secretary has taken upon himself, the role of the Department's value for money Minister. By the end of 2007-08, the Department achieved gains worth £2,855m per annum of which £1,552 million per annum was cashable. Following the publication of the OEP the Department has taken steps to benchmark back office activities, as part of its renewed focus on securing maximum cost-effectiveness in both direct and indirect costs.
	A wide range of learning and development opportunities are available across the Department for officials and Ministers, many of which are focused on delivering value for money in Home Office activities. This includes specific value for money training for members for the senior civil service as part of the wider finance improvement strategy that the Public Account Committee celebrated recently (HoC 640).

Departmental Telephone Services

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider the merits of securing accreditation of his Department's helplines to the Helplines Association's quality standard; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Home Office Department has already rationalised many of its helplines and are moving to ensure that call costs to its helplines are free or are kept to a minimum. The Department seeks to align its telephony services to the guidance and rules set out by Ofcom, the communications regulator which answers to Parliament but is independent of Government. Ofcom is tasked with making sure that people in the UK get the best from their communications services and has a general duty to further the interests of citizens and of consumers.
	We also work closely with the Central Office of Information (COI) which is the Government's centre of excellence for marketing and communications to ensure our telephone services are in line with industry standards and are aligned to the quality and service standards of other Government Departments.
	We will continue to seek ways to improve our telephony services and will consider the merits of the Helpline Association's standards as well as other associations or bodies to ensure we strive to deliver a communications service (including telephony) that meets the public need.

Detainees

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were held in each immigration removal centre in 2008-09.

Phil Woolas: The requested information is not available; the Home Office has however published for the first time in August 2009 the number of people entering each removal centre in the UK solely under Immigration Act powers in Q1 and Q2 2009. This information will be published quarterly in the future; however data for earlier years will remain unavailable. This information is available in table 8a and 8b of the Control of Immigration Quarterly Statistical Summary United Kingdom publication available at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/immiq209.pdf
	and from the Library of the House.
	National Statistics on how many people are detained on a quarterly snapshot basis by place of detention is available in table 9 of the above publication.

Driving Offences: Mobile Phones

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been fined for using mobile telephones while driving in  (a) England,  (b) Teesside and  (c) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency since 2003.

Alan Campbell: The information requested on court fines (provided by the Ministry of Justice) as well as fixed penalty notices issued by the police for using mobile telephones while driving in England and Cleveland police force area, covering 2003 to 2007 (latest available) is provided in tables A and B.
	It is not possible to separately identify fines issued to drivers in Teesside and Middlesbrough south as the data reported to the Home Office and Ministry of Justice are broken down by police force area level only.
	
		
			  Table A: Fixed penalty notices issued( 1)  for the offence of use of hand held mobile phone while driving( 2)  by police force area, England and Wales, 2003-07 
			   Number of offences 
			  Police force area  2003( 2)  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 England 1,888 70,494 122,748 158,605 115,406 
			 North East Region(3) 69 2841 5327 6515 5271 
			 Cleveland police force area 13 1,066 1,955 2263 1495 
			 (1) Covers tickets paid where there is no further action. (2) Offences under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, Regulations 110 (1), 110 (2) and 110(3). Introduced 1 December 2003. (3) Includes Cleveland, Durham and Northumbria police force areas. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: The number of persons fined at all courts for offences of using a hand held mobile phone while driving( 1) , in England, the North East Government Office Region( 2)  and Cleveland police force area, from 2004 to 2007( 3,4) 
			  Area  2004  2005  2006  2007( 5) 
			 England 350 992 1,225 9,653 
			 North East region 23 24 84 438 
			 Cleveland police force area 1 5 9 86 
			 (1) Statute: Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 - R.110(1), R.110(2) and R.110(3). Introduced 1 December 2003. Offence description: R.110(1) use of a hand held mobile phone while driving; R.110(2) causing or permitting the use of a mobile phone while driving a motor vehicle R.110(3) using a mobile phone while supervising the holder of a provisional driving licence to drive a motor vehicle on the road. (2) Includes Cleveland, Durham and Northumbria police force areas. (3) The figures given relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (5) Tough new penalties for using a hand-held mobile phone while driving and for failing to have proper control of a vehicle came into effect on 27 February 2007.  Source:  Office for Criminal Justice Reform - Evidence and Analysis Unit.

Driving Under Influence: Cycling

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were  (a) arrested,  (b) charged and  (c) convicted of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs while in charge of a bicycle in each police authority area in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

Alan Campbell: Information showing the number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for the offences Pedal cyclist driving under the influence of drink or drugs under section 30 of the 1988 Road Traffic Act and Being drunk in charge of a carriage (a bicycle is a carriage within the meaning of this Act), horse, cattle or steam engine under section 12 of the 1872 Licensing Act, in England and Wales from 2003 to 2007 (latest available) can be viewed in the following tables. Data for 2008 are planned for publication at the end of January 2010.
	The information requested on arrests is not collected centrally. The arrests collection held by the Home Office covers arrests for recorded crime (notifiable offences) only, broken down at a main offence group level, covering categories such as violence against the person and robbery. The alcohol related offences presented in the table are not notifiable offences and do not form part of the arrests collection.
	The Ministry of Justice do not centrally collect charging data; proceeded against information has been provided in lieu.
	
		
			  Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts under the offences Pedal cyclist driving under the influence of drink or drugs( 1)  (section 30 of the 1988 Road Traffic Act) and Being drunk while in charge on any highway or other public place of any carriage( 2) , horse, cattle or steam Engine (section 12 of the 1872 Licensing Act), in England  and  Wales, broken down by force( 3) , 2003 to 2007( 4, 5) 
			Pedal cyclist driving under the influence of drink or drugs( 1) 
			Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			   Force  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 13713 Avon and Somerset 1 2 3 3 - 1 2 3 3 - 
			  Bedfordshire - 2 - - - - 2 - - - 
			  Cambridgeshire - - - - 1 - - - - 1 
			  City of London 1 - - 1 - 1 - - 1 - 
			  Cleveland - - - 1 - - - - 1 - 
			  Cumbria 1 1 2 1 - 1 1 2 1 - 
			  Derbyshire 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 1 - 1 
			  Devon and Cornwall 2 - - 1 1 2 - - 1 1 
			  Dorset 1 1 1 1 - 1 1 1 1 - 
			  Durham 1 - 1 2 - 1 - 1 1 - 
			  Essex - 2 1 3 - - 2 - 3 - 
			  Greater Manchester 7 2 1 - 2 6 2 1 - 1 
			  Hampshire 4 3 2 3 1 3 2 2 2 1 
			  Hertfordshire 1 2 8 1 1 1 2 8 1 1 
			  Humberside 3 - 1 1 2 1 - 1 1 2 
			  Kent 2 - - 2 - 1 - - 2 - 
			  Lancashire - 2 1 1 1 - 2 1 1 - 
			  Leicestershire 1 - 1 - - 1 - 1 - - 
			  Lincolnshire - - - 1 2 - - - 1 1 
			  Merseyside - 2 1 2 4 - 2 1 2 4 
			  Metropolitan Police 4 4 3 5 2 4 3 1 4 2 
			  Norfolk - 1 1 1 - - - 1 1 - 
			  North Yorkshire - 1 - - - - 1 - - - 
			  Northumbria 7 6 7 6 4 6 4 5 5 4 
			  Nottinghamshire - - 1 - - - - 1 - - 
			  South Yorkshire 1 - - - 1 - - - - 1 
			  Staffordshire - - - 2 - - - - 2 - 
			  Suffolk 2 1 - - 2 2 1 - - 1 
			  Surrey 2 - - - - 1 - - - - 
			  Sussex 1 1 2 2 - 1 1 2 2 - 
			  Thames Valley 1 - 1 - 1 1 - 1 - - 
			  Warwickshire - - - 2 - - - - 2 - 
			  West Mercia 1 3 2 3 3 1 3 2 3 3 
			  West Midlands 1 1 3 2 7 1 1 3 1 5 
			  West Yorkshire - 1 1 1 1 - 1 - 1 - 
			  Wiltshire 1 - - 1 - - - - 1 - 
			  Dyfed-Powys - 3 3 3 1 - 3 3 2 1 
			  Gwent 1 - 3 - - 1 - 2 - - 
			  North Wales 3 - - 2 - 3 - - - - 
			  South Wales 4 2 - - 1 1 2 - - 1 
			  England and Wales 55 45 51 55 40 43 40 44 46 31 
		
	
	
		
			Being drunk while in charge on any highway or other public place of any carriage( 2) , horse, cattle or steam engine 
			Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			   Force  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 14102 Avon and Somerset 1 2 1 - 1 - 2 1 - - 
			  Bedfordshire 1 - 1 1 - 1 - 1 1 - 
			  Cambridgeshire - 1 - 2 - - 1 - 2 - 
			  Cheshire - - - 4 - - - - 4 - 
			  City of London - - - 1 - - - - 1 - 
			  Cleveland - - 1 - - - - 1 - - 
			  Cumbria 1 4 4 1 - 1 4 4 1 - 
			  Derbyshire - - - 4 1 - - - 2 1 
			  Durham 1 - 4 2 - 1 - 4 2 - 
			  Essex - 2 2 1 1 - 1 2 1 1 
			  Gloucestershire - - - 1 - - - - - - 
			  Greater Manchester 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 
			  Hampshire 6 1 - 1 1 3 1 - 1 1 
			  Hertfordshire - 2 - 1 1 - 1 - 1 1 
			  Kent 1 - 1 - 1 1 - 1 - 1 
			  Lancashire 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 - 2 - 
			  Leicestershire - 1 1 - - - 1 1 - - 
			  Lincolnshire - - 1 1 - - - 1 - - 
			  Merseyside 1 3 3 4 1 1 3 2 2 1 
			  Metropolitan Police 8 5 15 8 8 6 4 15 6 4 
			  Norfolk - - - 2 1 - - - 2 1 
			  North Yorkshire - 6 2 3 2 - 5 2 3 2 
			  Northamptonshire - 1 - - - - - - - - 
			  Northumbria 5 16 14 14 12 5 14 13 13 10 
			  Nottinghamshire - - 2 1 - - - 2 - - 
			  South Yorkshire - - - - 2 - - - - 2 
			  Staffordshire 1 1 1 1 - 1 - - - - 
			  Suffolk - - - - 1 - - - - 1 
			  Surrey 1 - - 1 - 1 - - 1 - 
			  Sussex - - - - 1 - - - - 1 
			  Thames Valley 1 1 - 1 - 1 1 - - - 
			  Warwickshire - 1 - - - - 1 - - - 
			  West Mercia 2 3 4 2 2 2 2 4 1 2 
			  West Midlands 4 6 4 1 2 3 6 4 1 1 
			  West Yorkshire 2 1 - 4 - 2 - - 1 - 
			  Wiltshire 2 2 1 1 - 2 2 1 1 - 
			  Dyfed-Powys - 1 - - - - - - - - 
			  North Wales 2 - - - - 1 - - - - 
			  England and Wales 43 64 65 67 40 34 51 60 51 31 
			 - = Nil. (1) The number of persons proceeded against and found guilty for driving under the influence of drinks or drugs cannot be separately identified under this statute. (2) A bicycle, whether ridden or pushed, is a carriage within the meaning of this Act. The number of persons proceeded against or found guilty of being drunk in charge of a carriage cannot be separated from those involving a horse, cattle or steam engine. (3) Nil data applies if a Police Force Area is not listed in the above tables. (4) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (5) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Evidence and Analysis Unit-Office for Criminal Justice Reform-Ref: IOS 510-09

Drugs: Smuggling

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been  (a) cautioned,  (b) prosecuted and  (c) convicted of offences relating to the unlawful importation or exportation of drugs in each of the last 10 years; and how many of those convicted received the maximum available sentence.

Claire Ward: I have been asked to reply.
	The number of offenders issued with a caution and the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences relating to the unlawful importation or exportation of drugs in England and Wales, from 1998 to 2007 (latest available) is given in tables 1 and 2 respectively.
	The number of defendants given the maximum available custodial sentence for offences relating to import or export of a controlled drug in England and Wales, from 1998 to 2007, is given in table 3.
	Court proceedings data for 2008 are planned for publication at the end of January 2010.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of offenders cautioned( 1)  for offences relating to the unlawful importation or exportation of controlled drugs, England and Wales, 1998 to 2007( 2, 3) 
			  Statute/offence description  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Customs and Excise Management Act 1979: Offence in relation to the unlawful 'importation' of a drug controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 29 16 5 3 1 6 9 15 10 11 
			 Customs and Excise Management Act 1979: Offence in relation to  the unlawful 'exportation' of a drug controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 5 8 11 1 6 6 8 4 24 6 
			 (1) From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and warnings. These figures have been included in the totals. (2) The cautions statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time, the principal offence is the more serious offence. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Office for Criminal Justice Reform: Evidence and Analysis Unit. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences relating to the unlawful importation or exportation of controlled drugs, England and Wales, 1998 to 2007( 1, 2, 3, 4) 
			   1998  1999  2000  2001  2002 
			  Statute/offence description  Proceeded against  Found guilty  Proceeded against  Found guilty  Proceeded against  Found guilty  Proceeded against  Found guilty  Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			 Customs and Excise Management Act 1979: Offence in relation to the unlawful 'importation' of a drug controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 1,300 1,190 1,280 1,171 1,201 1,165 1,752 1,648 1,624 1,599 
			 Customs and Excise Management Act 1979: Offence in relation to the unlawful 'exportation' of a drug controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 112 59 74 25 51 40 22 30 30 21 
		
	
	
		
			   200 3  2004  200 5  2006  200 7 
			  Statute/offence description  Proceeded against  Found guilty  Proceeded against  Found guilty  Proceeded against  Found guilty  Proceeded against  Found guilty  Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			 Customs and Excise Management Act 1979: Offence in relation to the unlawful 'importation' of a drug controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 1,081 1,063 945 975 1,057 1,026 874 835 818 783 
			 Customs and Excise Management Act 1979: Offence in relation to the unlawful 'exportation' of a drug controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 28 18 18 37 25 35 30 35 38 36 
			 (1) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Staffordshire police force were only able to submit sample data for persons proceeded against and convicted in the magistrates courts for the year 2000. Although sufficient to estimate higher orders of data, these data are not robust enough at a detailed level and have been excluded from the table. (4) Where the 'found guilty' column exceeds the 'proceeded against' column it may be the case that a defendant was found guilty at the Crown court in the year following the year in which proceedings took place, or the defendant was found guilty for a different offence to that proceeded against.  Source: Office for Criminal Justice Reform: Evidence and Analysis unit. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Defendants given maximum available custodial sentence for offences relating to import or export of controlled drug( 1) , 1998 to 2007 
			   1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Import(2) 1 - - - - - 1 - - - 
			 Export(3) - - - - - - - - - - 
			 (1) Customs and Excise Management Act 1979. Offences in relation to the unlawful importation/exportation of a drug controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. (2) Maximum available sentence for import of class A or other class is life imprisonment, for class B and C it is 14 years. (3) Maximum available sentence for export of class A or other class is life imprisonment, for class B and C it is 14 years.  Note: These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.  Source: OMS Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice.

Entry Clearances

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has taken account of the published anti-Semitic views of any individuals seeking to enter the United Kingdom when deciding whether to grant entry to such individuals in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 March 2009,  Official Report, column 462W and would re-affirm that where there is clear, reliable evidence that a person has engaged in unacceptable behaviour, which would include inciting racial or religious hatred, consideration will be given to whether or not that person should be refused entry to the United Kingdom.
	This may be at the entry clearance application stage, where applicable, or when a person arrives at the port of entry. In certain cases the Home Secretary may personally decide that a person should be excluded from the United Kingdom.
	Figures on the number of refusals of entry to the United Kingdom on the basis of the published anti-Semitic views of individuals are not recorded centrally.

Entry Clearances

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the reasons are for the time taken by the UK Border Agency to process applications by European nationals for permanent residence.

Phil Woolas: The length of time taken by UK Border Agency to determine applications submitted by European nationals for permanent residence is subject to a number of factors-both internal and external to the Agency. Internally UK Border Agency has had to refocus resource and this has impacted on the Agency's ability to deal with applications as quickly as we would wish. Externally, the number of incomplete applications received has led to delays in the caseworking process.
	On both counts, we have introduced a number of measures in the past six months to improve performance. The Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2006 stipulate this documentation should be issued as soon as possible after an application and proof of entitlement have been submitted. If an application is not submitted with adequate supporting evidence then delays are necessarily incurred as that information is obtained.

Entry Clearances

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil and unmarried partners of UK residents who are from outside the European Economic Area have been admitted to the UK in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 26 October 2009
	The available information is provided in the following table.
	Statistics on passengers given leave to enter the United Kingdom by purpose of journey are published in table 1.2 of the Home Office publication Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom 2008 which is available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office Research, Development and Statistics website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration-asylum-stats.html
	
		
			  Passengers( 1, 2)  entering the United Kingdom as civil and unmarried partners, 2004-08, United Kingdom 
			  Number of journeys 
			   2004( 3)  2005  2006  2007( 4)  2008( 5) 
			 Total civil partners(6) n/a n/a 105 1,890 1,955 
			  Of which:  
			 Proposed civil partner n/a n/a 5 * 5 
			 Civil partner admitted for a probationary period n/a n/a 100 1,890 1,930 
			 Civil partner given indefinite leave to enter n/a n/a - - 20 
			   
			 Total unmarried partners(7) 90 115 290 190 335 
			  Of which:  
			 Common law spouse admitted for a probationary period(8) 45 55 110 110 295 
			 Same sex partner admitted for probationary period(9) 50 55 185 80 40 
			 n/a = Not applicable. (1) Figures rounded to the nearest 5 (- = 0, * = 1 or 2). Figures may not sum to the totals shown because of independent rounding. (2) Excludes EEA and Swiss nationals. (3) Includes nationals of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia before 1 May 2004, but excludes them from this date. (4) Excludes Bulgaria and Romania. (5) Provisional figures. (6) The Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into force on 5 December 2005. (7) In table 2.1 of Control of Immigration Statistics United Kingdom 2008 the figure for 'civil and unmarried partners and proposed civil partners' for 2006 excludes unmarried partners. This will be corrected in table 1 of Control of Immigration Statistics Summary, United Kingdom July to September 2009, scheduled for publication on 26 November 2009. (8) Includes common-law spouse of a diplomat admitted for a probationary period. (9) Includes same sex partner of a diplomat admitted for a probationary period.  Source: Migration Statistics, Home Office.

Entry Clearances

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were denied entry to the UK because of concerns about their extremist views in the last 12 months.

Phil Woolas: A decision to deny entry to the UK may be made at the entry clearance application stage, or when a person arrives at the port of entry. Additionally, denial of entry may include individuals who have either been deported from, or removed and subsequently excluded from, the United Kingdom and in certain cases the Home Secretary may personally decide that an individual should be excluded from the United Kingdom on unacceptable behaviour grounds.
	There are no centrally held records which encompass the total number of foreign nationals who have been denied entry to the UK because of concerns about their extremist views, but the Government's unacceptable behaviours policy is directed at those who advocate hatred or violence in support of their beliefs.
	I can confirm that since October 2008 the Home Secretary has excluded 27 individuals from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) from the UK on the grounds of unacceptable behaviour. During the same period, two EEA nationals have been refused admission on public policy grounds linked to their advocacy of racial or religious hatred.

Entry Clearances: Russia

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the efficiency of the system for visa applications in operation in Moscow.

Phil Woolas: During June and July it took 15 working days to process short-term visa applications (for stays of up to 12 months), and 28 days to process student visa applications (under Tier 4 of the Points Based System). The relevant agreed global targets are:
	Straightforward, non-settlement applications: 90 per cent. to be processed in five working days, and 98 per cent. in 15.
	Non-straightforward non-settlement applications (includes those under PBS): 90 per cent. to be processed in 15 working days, 98 per cent. in 30.
	The extended processing times were publicised at the time via the Russian Commercial Partner's website, and through the Moscow UK Border Agency User Panel, with visa applicants encouraged to apply in good time in advance of proposed travel dates.
	In order to ensure that students were able to travel to commence their courses on time, a dedicated team of Entry Clearance Officers was set up to deal with student applications. Other visa applications were also prioritised, where appropriate, and applications in the following categories generally processed within the global target of five working days i.e. applications from (a) previous travellers, (b) the four Regional Visa Application Centres outside Moscow (acknowledging the longer transit time), and (c) business people enrolled in a local Trusted Partner scheme. All backlogs were cleared by the end of September.
	A full staffing complement of five ECMs and 14 ECOs is now in place.

Forensic Science Service

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of any likely cost savings arising from the proposed closure of Forensic Science Service sites.

Alan Campbell: The primary goal of the FSS transformation is to build a more robust and resilient business that is both profitable and fully able to respond to the changing needs of our customers. The FSS has produced a business case which will deliver significant savings in the future years. The figure is commercially sensitive and dependent upon the success of the FSS in competing for and retaining customers' business.

Immigration

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department takes at the border to handle migrants denied entry to the UK.

Phil Woolas: When an individual is refused entry to the United Kingdom, they are liable to be removed by the first available service to  (a) the country from which they travelled, or  (b) a country where they are admissible. After completion of satisfactory risk assessments, the individual will either be detained or granted conditional temporary admission until removal can be effected.
	Individuals who are refused entry at our juxtaposed controls in northern France and Belgium are served with written notices explaining the reasons why they have been denied entry to the UK. Responsibility for the individual is then passed to the relevant host authority.

Immigration Controls

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with  (a) his French counterpart and  (b) his other EU counterparts on UK border security and migration policy.

Phil Woolas: The UK, French and other EU Governments maintain regular contact in the area of UK border security and migration. On 22-24 June 2009 the Home Secretary made introductory calls to his counterparts in Spain, Germany and Sweden. He discussed amongst other issues the UK position on the Stockholm Programme which encompasses border security and migration policy.
	On 21 September the Home Secretary attended the Justice and Home Affairs Council in Brussels, along with all of his European counterparts. European Ministers discussed a range of issues including European asylum policy and how to strengthen the management of migration flows in the Mediterranean. The Home Secretary had bilateral discussions with some of his counterparts in the margins of the Council, including with the French Minister for Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Solidarity-based Development, Eric Besson. I met with Eric Besson, the French Minister for Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Solidarity-based Development at the UK-France summit in Evian on 6 July 2009. where we both committed to further action to combat illegal immigration, including through strengthening security at the shared border and taking resolute action to reduce the pull factors for illegal immigrants and criminal networks.

Overseas Students: Entry Clearances

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of applications from  (a) Chinese,  (b) Indian,  (c) Pakistani,  (d) Bangladeshi and  (e) US nationals for a student visa were rejected between July and September 2009.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 19 October 2009
	The percentage of applications from  (a) Chinese,  (b) Indian,  (c) Pakistani,  (d) Bangladeshi and  (e) US nationals for a student visa that were refused between July and September 2009 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  PBS Tier 4 - Student visa applications 1 July 2009 to 30 September 2009 
			  Nationality  Refusal rate ( percentage) 
			 Bangladesh 10 
			 China 7 
			 India 17 
			 Pakistan 30 
			 United States 7 
			  Note: This data are unpublished and should be treated as provisional  Source:  Central Reference System

Police Cautions

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many offenders have received a police caution in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many offenders received  (a) one,  (b) two,  (c) three and  (d) four or more police cautions between 1997 and 2009;
	(3)  how many offenders received  (a) one,  (b) two,  (c) three and  (d) four or more police cautions in each year since 1997.

Claire Ward: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested is shown in the following tables. Data prior to 2000 have not been included.
	Table 1 shows the number of people cautioned on at least one occasion in each calendar year from 2000, and provides a breakdown of this total by the number of times each person was cautioned in the year.
	
		
			  Table 1: Numbers of people cautioned by calendar year 
			Number of people cautioned on: 
			   Total number of people cautioned at least once in year  Only one occasion in year  Two occasions in year  Three occasions in year  Four or more occasions in year 
			 2000 238,746 210,490 21,842 3,934 2,480 
			 2001 237,337 210,012 21,140 3,891 2,294 
			 2002 239,325 213,191 20,733 3,444 1,957 
			 2003 253,884 226,407 21,904 3,610 1,963 
			 2004 260,797 230,100 24,251 4,141 2,305 
			 2005 302,845 265,660 29,335 5,149 2,701 
			 2006 346,486 301,443 35,369 6,252 3,422 
			 2007 360,749 312,192 38,280 6,824 3,453 
			 2008 329,199 285,687 34,785 5,714 3,013 
		
	
	Table 2 shows the number of people that have been cautioned on at least one occasion at any time between 2000 and 2008, and the breakdown of this total by the number of times each person has been cautioned over this time period.
	
		
			  Table 2: Numbers of people cautioned between 2000-08 
			  Caution occasions  Number of people with cautions between 2000-08 
			 One 1,639,891 
			 Two 397,458 
			 Three 104,915 
			 Four or more 51,874 
			 Total 2,194,138 
		
	
	These figures have been drawn from the police's administrative IT system, the police national computer (PNC), which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police.

Police Cautions

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have received police cautions for the offences of  (a) taking, permitting to be taken, or making distributing or publishing indecent photographs or pseudo- photographs of children and  (b) possessing an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child in each of the last five years.

Claire Ward: I have been asked to reply.
	The number of persons issued with a caution for offences of taking, permitting to be taken, or making, distributing or publishing indecent photographs of children and possession of an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child in England and Wales, from 2003-07 (latest available) is given in the following table.
	Data for 2008 are planned for publication at the end of January 2010.
	
		
			  Number of offenders cautioned( 1, 2)  for offences of taking, or possession of, an indecent photograph of a child, England and Wales, 2003-07( 3) 
			  Offence description  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Take, permit to be taken, or to make, distribute or publish indecent photographs or pseudo-photographs of children(4) 239 201 195 168 185 
			 Possession of an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child(5) 205 162 151 147 142 
			 (1) From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and warnings. These figures have been included in the totals. (2) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time, the principal offence is the more serious offence. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) Offences under the Protection of Children Act 1978, section 1 and section 6 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, section 84 and Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 S.41(1). (5) Offences under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 sec.160 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000.  Source: Office for Criminal Justice Reform: Evidence and Analysis Unit.

Police: Complaints

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints of excessive use of force by police there were in  (a) England,  (b) the North East,  (c) the Tees Valley and  (d) Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland in each of the last five years.

David Hanson: The Home Office does not collect this information.
	The Police Reform Act 2002 places a duty on all police forces to record all complaints made by members of the public about the conduct of those serving with the police. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is responsible for the collation and publication of complaints statistics for England and Wales. It has done so since it was established in 2004.
	Excessive force is not a category used in the collation and publication of the IPCC's statistics. It is a matter for each force to retain such information.

Police: Pay

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what allowances are paid to chief constables; what criteria apply to the payment of such allowances; how much was paid to the Chief Constable of Essex Police in allowances in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The nationally determined chief police officer pay and allowances are agreed by the Police Negotiating Board and, for England and Wales, given effect through the Police Regulations 2003 and Home Secretary Determinations made under those regulations. I have placed in the Library of the House a consolidated set of the Determinations. It is for police authorities to determine individual chief officer allowances in accordance with legislative requirements and their duty to ensure the maintenance of an efficient and effective force for their area. Information on chief officer allowances determined by police authorities is not held centrally.

Police: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made towards delivering the Policing Pledge in Tamworth.

David Hanson: It is for individual police forces and authorities to ensure delivery of the Policing Pledge in their area. The Government will hold forces to account for progress through the single top-down target we have set them to improve public confidence that crime and antisocial behaviour are being tackled locally, and in the light of inspection work by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC).
	In October, HMIC published a report on the progress of all forces in delivering the pledge. Although information is not available specifically for Tamworth, the report graded Staffordshire police as 'fair'. HMIC identified that the force regularly keep the public informed about action taken to address local concerns and that they were dealing well with non-emergency calls. It also identified that more could be done to ensure a quicker response to public dissatisfaction and calls to neighbourhood teams. We now look to all forces and police authorities to respond quickly to HMIC's findings and deliver the pledge consistently for their community.

Police: Termination of Employment

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) police officers and  (b) police community support officers (i) were dismissed and (ii) resigned in each local authority area in each year since 2002.

David Hanson: Police personnel data are not collected centrally at local authority area level. The available force-level data have been collected since 2002-03 and are given in the following tables.
	
		
			  Police Officer and PCSO dismissals and resignations by police force (full-time equivalent)( 1) , 2002-03 to 2008-09( 2) 
			  Full-time equivalent 
			   2002-03( 3)  2003-04 
			   Police Officer  PCSO  Police Officer  PCSO 
			  Force name  Voluntary resignations  Dismissals  Voluntary resignations  Dismissals  Voluntary resignations  Dismissals  Voluntary resignations  Dismissals 
			 Avon and Somerset 11 1 n/a n/a 52 3 0 0 
			 Bedfordshire 22 2 0 0 39 0 0 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 22 4 0 0 23 2 3 0 
			 Cheshire 10 2 0 0 21 0 3 0 
			 Cleveland 3 5 0 0 23 3 1 0 
			 Cumbria 9 2 0 0 11 1 0 0 
			 Derbyshire 14 4 0 0 21 3 0 0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 22 7 0 1 13 3 3 1 
			 Dorset 11 2 0 0 18 1 0 0 
			 Durham 4 0 1 0 19 1 2 0 
			 Essex 12 n/a n/a n/a 36 3 4 0 
			 Gloucestershire 10 n/a n/a n/a 16 2 3 0 
			 Greater Manchester 43 3 1 1 126 11 20 5 
			 Hampshire 35 3 0 0 68 6 0 0 
			 Hertfordshire 28 3 0 0 56 4 1 0 
			 Humberside 20 1 0 0 29 3 n/a n/a 
			 Kent 37 0 0 0 72 1 1 0 
			 Lancashire 17 6 0 0 28 5 6 0 
			 Leicestershire 20 0 0 0 35 1 7 2 
			 Lincolnshire 10 0 1 0 16 1 8 1 
			 London, City of 19 1 0 0 12 0 0 0 
			 Merseyside 22 3 0 0 34 7 10 0 
			 Metropolitan Police 453 19 11 1 552 22 110 5 
			 Norfolk 9 1 0 0 10 1 2 1 
			 Northamptonshire 9 0 1 0 26 2 1 0 
			 Northumbria 35 3 0 0 29 6 0 0 
			 North Yorkshire 11 0 0 0 15 3 n/a n/a 
			 Nottinghamshire 12 1 0 0 13 1 0 0 
			 South Yorkshire 36 3 0 0 46 1 3 0 
			 Staffordshire 7 1 0 0 27 6 1 0 
			 Suffolk 14 1 0 0 28 2 0 0 
			 Surrey 27 0 0 0 34 7 6 1 
			 Sussex 35 0 0 0 124 6 8 2 
			 Thames Valley 64 4 0 0 71 1 1 0 
			 Warwickshire 14 1 0 0 19 2 4 0 
			 West Mercia 18 0 0 0 27 4 4 1 
			 West Midlands 89 11 0 0 107 4 1 0 
			 West Yorkshire 34 6 0 0 46 6 18 1 
			 Wiltshire 18 3 0 0 18 0 1 0 
			 Dyfed-Powys 5 1 0 0 9 1 n/a n/a 
			 Gwent 1 1 0 0 15 0 9 1 
			 North Wales 7 0 0 0 22 0 0 0 
			 South Wales 20 3 0 0 21 4 4 0 
			 Total 1,317 108 15 3 2,026 140 246 21 
		
	
	
		
			  Full-time equivalent 
			   2004-05  2005-06 
			   Police Officer  PCSO  Police Officer  PCSO 
			  Force name  Voluntary resignations  Dismissals  Voluntary resignations  Dismissals  Voluntary resignations  Dismissals  Voluntary resignations  Dismissals 
			 Avon and Somerset 40 5 0 0 77 4 21 0 
			 Bedfordshire 35 4 2 0 25 0 4 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 34 4 15 1 26 2 16 0 
			 Cheshire 26 2 2 0 37 3 6 0 
			 Cleveland 20 4 7 0 24 3 5 0 
			 Cumbria 15 0 0 0 11 2 4 1 
			 Derbyshire 20 0 0 0 20 3 1 0 
			 Devon and Cornwall 31 3 2 0 44 0 6 0 
			 Dorset 20 3 4 1 22 3 4 1 
			 Durham 19 1 0 0 15 1 6 0 
			 Essex 66 2 14 0 79 9 32 0 
			 Gloucestershire 16 0 8 0 19 2 9 2 
			 Greater Manchester 128 5 13 0 186 21 21 0 
			 Hampshire 47 5 0 0 64 6 6 0 
			 Hertfordshire 54 2 11 0 55 2 21 1 
			 Humberside 36 0 1 0 31 4 0 0 
			 Kent 60 0 9 1 66 3 16 1 
			 Lancashire 42 2 14 0 26 3 37 0 
			 Leicestershire 36 1 3 0 45 3 11 0 
			 Lincolnshire 19 0 9 0 20 0 11 0 
			 London, City of 11 1 0 0 11 0 2 1 
			 Merseyside 38 9 11 0 83 10 20 1 
			 Metropolitan Police 422 32 234 14 337 28 378 23 
			 Norfolk 13 2 3 0 22 1 7 1 
			 Northamptonshire 30 0 1 0 24 1 2 0 
			 Northumbria 34 2 3 0 38 2 17 1 
			 North Yorkshire 18 0 14 0 17 2 8 0 
			 Nottinghamshire 25 1 9 1 14 1 4 0 
			 South Yorkshire 57 0 5 0 40 4 5 0 
			 Staffordshire 43 3 2 0 24 2 9 1 
			 Suffolk 26 3 1 0 14 4 5 0 
			 Surrey 32 2 16 1 37 5 6 1 
			 Sussex 113 2 21 6 82 5 34 1 
			 Thames Valley 100 1 0 0 131 8 21 2 
			 Warwickshire 15 2 5 0 12 2 12 0 
			 West Mercia 21 2 2 0 19 4 4 0 
			 West Midlands 119 18 4 0 137 8 26 2 
			 West Yorkshire 72 2 55 1 89 5 68 0 
			 Wiltshire 24 1 6 0 26 0 12 0 
			 Dyfed-Powys 17 1 0 0 12 3 5 0 
			 Gwent 17 2 2 1 20 3 11 1 
			 North Wales 17 1 0 0 27 3 2 0 
			 South Wales 18 3 11 0 29 3 11 2 
			 Total 2,042 133 516 27 2,134 178 904 43 
		
	
	
		
			  Full-time equivalent 
			   2006 - 07  2007 - 08 
			   Police Officer  PCSO  Police Officer  PCSO 
			  Force name  Voluntary resignations  Dismissals  Voluntary resignations  Dismissals  Voluntary resignations  Dismissals  Voluntary resignations  Dismissals 
			 Avon and Somerset 35 1 18 0 48 1 30 5 
			 Bedfordshire 23 5 8 0 31 1 27 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 28 1 13 0 12 4 24 1 
			 Cheshire 24 4 15 0 17 3 13 5 
			 Cleveland 25 0 12 0 23 2 13 0 
			 Cumbria 17 0 5 0 11 1 22 0 
			 Derbyshire 41 5 7 0 39 4 33 3 
			 Devon and Cornwall 34 4 9 1 38 2 22 2 
			 Dorset 19 3 10 1 26 2 2 0 
			 Durham 16 0 9 0 19 1 27 2 
			 Essex 81 5 38 2 73 1 41 0 
			 Gloucestershire 20 2 9 0 18 0 13 1 
			 Greater Manchester 159 6 36 4 136 8 99 5 
			 Hampshire 49 1 13 0 46 5 32 0 
			 Hertfordshire 63 2 13 0 50 4 26 1 
			 Humberside 34 2 11 1 40 2 22 1 
			 Kent 49 1 15 0 57 4 42 2 
			 Lancashire 32 6 19 1 34 8 71 3 
			 Leicestershire 27 2 19 1 53 7 31 1 
			 Lincolnshire 16 3 12 0 16 0 16 0 
			 London, City of 11 1 7 1 16 2 6 1 
			 Merseyside 61 1 24 2 41 13 50 2 
			 Metropolitan Police 531 31 309 15 360 23 655 30 
			 Norfolk 24 1 11 1 16 1 18 2 
			 Northamptonshire 19 3 11 0 25 2 21 2 
			 Northumbria 48 8 19 4 46 9 43 3 
			 North Yorkshire 32 0 11 1 31 2 5 0 
			 Nottinghamshire 28 2 10 2 23 2 27 2 
			 South Yorkshire 38 0 12 0 40 0 15 2 
			 Staffordshire 22 6 11 2 24 8 24 1 
			 Suffolk 12 2 8 0 23 2 13 2 
			 Surrey 46 10 43 0 47 5 23 4 
			 Sussex 76 5 38 2 76 1 50 3 
			 Thames Valley 86 5 23 2 78 4 71 0 
			 Warwickshire 18 0 7 0 20 1 12 0 
			 West Mercia 38 1 21 0 32 0 39 0 
			 West Midlands 105 26 45 1 91 16 93 4 
			 West Yorkshire 65 3 51 1 84 8 110 7 
			 Wiltshire 16 1 8 0 28 0 13 3 
			 Dyfed-Powys 8 0 4 0 12 3 11 0 
			 Gwent 16 1 16 1 24 6 14 3 
			 North Wales 22 1 10 1 16 0 10 0 
			 South Wales 39 1 18 1 80 2 36 1 
			 Total 2,150 161 1,007 48 2,020 170 1,962 104 
		
	
	
		
			  Full-time equivalent 
			   2008-09 
			   Police Officer  PCSO 
			  Force name  Voluntary resignations  Dismissals  Voluntary resignations  Dismissals 
			 Avon and Somerset 28 3 32 0 
			 Bedfordshire 25 3 21 0 
			 Cambridgeshire 25 0 35 1 
			 Cheshire 17 2 31 1 
			 Cleveland 19 3 7 0 
			 Cumbria 21 1 30 0 
			 Derbyshire 34 4 18 2 
			 Devon and Cornwall 37 2 28 6 
			 Dorset 14 2 16 2 
			 Durham 16 2 37 5 
			 Essex 53 4 36 0 
			 Gloucestershire 12 1 18 0 
			 Greater Manchester 97 7 99 3 
			 Hampshire 45 4 63 1 
			 Hertfordshire 34 5 30 0 
			 Humberside 36 2 24 0 
			 Kent 57 2 75 4 
			 Lancashire 24 6 86 3 
			 Leicestershire 35 2 36 3 
			 Lincolnshire 15 0 28 2 
			 London, City of 5 0 20 0 
			 Merseyside 47 10 93 0 
			 Metropolitan Police 383 19 512 38 
			 Norfolk 31 5 74 1 
			 Northamptonshire 19 4 22 0 
			 Northumbria 48 4 58 1 
			 North Yorkshire 28 2 11 1 
			 Nottinghamshire 25 1 62 1 
			 South Yorkshire 30 1 30 0 
			 Staffordshire 22 1 36 0 
			 Suffolk 32 2 13 0 
			 Surrey 52 4 42 2 
			 Sussex 60 2 58 2 
			 Thames Valley 51 8 96 1 
			 Warwickshire 9 1 18 0 
			 West Mercia 28 1 39 0 
			 West Midlands 109 8 106 1 
			 West Yorkshire 73 6 55 4 
			 Wiltshire 29 0 23 0 
			 Dyfed-Powys 9 3 5 0 
			 Gwent 22 2 20 0 
			 North Wales 14 0 44 1 
			 South Wales 88 2 27 0 
			 Total 1,854 141 2,212 86 
			 n/a = Data not available. (1) Full-Time Equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items. Data have not previously been previously published in this format therefore totals may not match totals found in the published data. (2) Financial year runs 1 April to 31 March inclusive. Comparable data are not available prior to 2002-03. (3) Excludes quarters 1, 2 and 3, as data are not available.

Radicalism

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what policy his Department has adopted to prevent  (a) violent extremism,  (b) extremism claimed to be perpetrated in the name of Islam,  (c) extremism perpetrated in the name of neo-nazi and fascist causes and  (d) extremism claimed by others; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: holding answer 15 October 2009
	 The Government, the police and other agencies assess the threat from various forms of extremism on a regular basis. The Government take all threats to the security of our communities very seriously and are undertaking a wide variety of programmes to address and reduce the threat.
	Local threat assessments are not published publicly but are produced so that local partners including local authorities and police forces are able to make decisions and allocate resources according to local situations.
	The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) assess the threat to the UK from international terrorism and that is currently assessed to be at substantial, meaning that the threat of a terrorist attack remains a strong possibility and may occur without warning.

Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been  (a) cautioned,  (b) prosecuted and  (c) convicted of offences under section 53 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000; and how many of those convicted received the maximum sentence.

Claire Ward: I have been asked to reply.
	The encryption provisions of the 2000 Regulations of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) came into force on 1 October 2007. Up to the end of 2007 (latest available) there have been no persons reported to the Ministry of Justice as being cautioned, prosecuted or convicted under section 53 of the Act in England and Wales. Some information is available in the Chief Surveillance Commissioner's report for 2008-09 which shows there were two s53 convictions for failing to disclose the key to protected information.
	The Government are satisfied that offences set in RIPA are appropriate and that the legislation is being used effectively.

Sexual Offences: Police Cautions

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have received cautions for offences under section  (a) 1 and  (b) 5 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 in each police force area in each of the last five years.

Claire Ward: I have been asked to reply.
	Information showing the number of offenders cautioned for offences under section 1 and 5 of the 2003 Sexual Offences Act in England and Wales, broken down by Police Force Area, from 1 May 2004 (the date the 2003 Sexual offences Act came into force) to 2007 (latest available) can be viewed in the following table.
	Data for 2008 are planned for publication at the end of January 2010.
	
		
			  Number of offenders cautioned( 1)  for offences under Sections 1 and 5 of the 2003 Sexual Offences Act, England and Wales, broken down by force( 2) , 2004( 3)  to 2007( 4,5) 
			  Force  2004( 3)  2005  2006  2007 
			  Section 1 
			 Cambridgeshire 2 - - - 
			 Cleveland - - - 1 
			 Essex 3 - - - 
			 Greater Manchester 1 - - - 
			 Hampshire - 1 1 3 
			 Hertfordshire - - 1 - 
			 Humberside - - 1 - 
			 Lancashire 1 - - - 
			 Lincolnshire 1 1 - - 
			 Metropolitan Police 4 - 1 - 
			 Norfolk 1 - - - 
			 Northamptonshire - 1 - - 
			 Northumbria - - - 1 
			 Nottinghamshire 2 - 1 2 
			 South Yorkshire 1 - 1 - 
			 Staffordshire - - 1 1 
			 Suffolk 2 1 - - 
			 Surrey 2 1 - - 
			 Sussex - - 2 - 
			 Warwickshire - - - 1 
			 West Mercia - - 1 - 
			 West Yorkshire - 1 - - 
			 England and Wales 20 6 10 9 
			  
			  Section 5 
			 Bedfordshire - - 1 - 
			 Cambridgeshire - - - 3 
			 Cleveland - - 1 - 
			 Gloucestershire - 3 1 - 
			 Greater Manchester 2 1 - - 
			 Hampshire - - 1 - 
			 Hertfordshire - - 2 - 
			 Humberside - 1 1 - 
			 Kent - - - 4 
			 Lincolnshire 2 2 - 2 
			 Merseyside - - - 1 
			 Metropolitan Police 2 4 - 1 
			 Northumbria - - - 1 
			 Nottinghamshire - - 3 2 
			 South Yorkshire - - 1 5 
			 Staffordshire - - - 2 
			 Suffolk - 1 - 1 
			 Surrey 3 - - - 
			 Thames Valley 1 - - - 
			 Warwickshire - - 1 2 
			 West Midlands 1 4 - 1 
			 Dyfed-Powys - - 1 - 
			 Gwent - - 1 - 
			 England and Wales 11 16 14 25 
			 (1) From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and warnings. These figures have been included in the totals. (2) A force not listed in the table means nil data. (3) The Sexual Offences Act 2003 came into force on 1 May 2004-data in the table start from that date. (4) The cautions statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been cautioned for two or more offences at the same time the principal offence is the more serious offence. (5) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Evidence and Analysis Unit-Office for Criminal Justice Reform

Vetting

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long on average it took to complete a Criminal Records Bureau check undertaken  (a) by Lancashire constabulary and  (b) nationwide in the latest period for which figures are available.

Meg Hillier: Data concerning the average time taken by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) to complete a Disclosure by police force area and the average length of time for the completion of CRB clearance once police have been asked to provide this information are not collated by the Bureau.
	The CRB operates to a set of published service standards (PSS) which include to issue 95 per cent. of Standard Disclosures within 10 days and 90 per cent. of Enhanced Disclosures within 28 days. Average figures do not give an accurate indication of performance, since any forces' performance can be affected by a number of factors; the volume of cases sent to a force to process in any given month, the number of staff available to process the checks and the IT resources on hand to forces. With these variables, performance can fluctuate within individual forces from one month to the next.

CABINET OFFICE

Census: Sanctions

James Duddridge: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what procedure governs the imposition of sanctions on respondents who fill in their census return incorrectly.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Jil Matheson, dated November 2009:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what procedure governs the imposition of sanctions on respondents who fill in their census return incorrectly. (297472)
	During the 2011 Census blank or incomplete responses will be identified during the data capture operation and residents will be contacted by census staff while the field operation is still ongoing to obtain the required information.
	In a case where a questionnaire is returned, but has been incorrectly completed there are a number of possible outcomes. Where responses are missing in an otherwise completed return, or where there are incorrect answers that are inconsistent with other responses, then edit and imputation processes will be applied at the data processing stage and generally residents will not be recontacted
	If a questionnaire has inappropriate comments or obscene remarks written in place of answers or has been left intentionally blank, it would be treated under a non-compliance procedure. Under this procedure census staff revisit addresses and, where appropriate, offer help with completing the form so that a return can be made as prescribed in the Census (England and Wales) Order 2009, the Draft of which was laid before parliament on Wednesday 21 October 2009.
	The penalty for failure to make a census return is specified in Section 8 (1) of the Census Act 1920 which prescribes a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale. The standard scale is that set out in the Criminal Justice Act and the maximum fine is currently £1,000. Prosecutions for refusing to complete a census return are conducted in a Magistrates Court and the award of costs against the defendant is at the discretion of the Magistrate.
	The Office for National Statistics would prosecute only those who persistently refuse to make a return, and not in cases where genuine mistakes have been made, or where people are incapable of completing a return for whatever reason.

Census: Postal Services.

James Duddridge: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what contingency plans there are to ensure delivery of census forms in the event of disruption of postal services.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Jil Matheson, dated November 2009:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what contingency plans there are to ensure delivery of census forms in the event of disruption of postal services. (297473)
	The Office for National Statistics has contracted the delivery and post back of census questionnaires to Royal Mail. This requires Royal Mail to develop contingency plans to cope with potential disruption to postal services during the 2011 Census. These plans are part of ONS's contractual arrangements with Royal Mail and are confidential.
	There has been the opportunity to test the Royal Mail contingency plans during the census rehearsal which is currently taking place in areas of Lancaster, Newham and Isle of Anglesey. Our experience to date has shown no impact from the recent industrial action on the delivery of questionnaires: there have been some minor delays in the return of completed questionnaires though Royal Mail has assuranced us that there is no current back log.
	ONS will work with Royal Mail to develop further contingency plans for 2011, building on experience during the rehearsal.

Government Departments: Official Hospitality

David Taylor: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if she will amend the list of hospitality received by board members of Government Departments from 1 January to 31 December 2007 to include hospitality provided by the Chairman of the Audit Commission to the  (a) Director General of the Department for Communities and Local Government on 18 August 2007,  (b) Director General of the Financial and Commercial Group at the Home Department on 11 May 2007 and  (c) Permanent Secretary to the Department Communities and Local Government on 8 October 2007.

Tessa Jowell: Guidance to Departments on the recording of hospitality is set out in the Government's response to the Public Administration Select Committee's Report Lobbying: Access and Influence in Whitehall which can be accessed at:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmselect/cmpubadm/1045/1045.pdf

Jobseeker's Allowance

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many under 25 year olds in Teignbridge constituency claimed jobseeker's allowance in  (a) 1997,  (b) 2007,  (c) 2008 and  (d) 2009.

Angela Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Jil Matheson, dated November 2009:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many under 25 year olds in Teignbridge constituency claimed jobseeker's allowance in 1997, 2007, 2008 and 2009. (297658)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles the number of claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) from the Jobcentre Plus administrative system. Table 1 shows the number of persons under 25 years old, resident in the Teignbridge constituency, who were claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in September 2009, the latest period available, and the same month in 2008 ,2007 and 1997.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at: http://www.nomisweb.co.uk.

Manpower: Cabinet Office

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 7 May 2009,  Official Report, column 427W, on departmental manpower, whether the Central Office of Information's post of Head of Public Engagement is a new post; whether the post is part of the Government Communications Network; and what the  (a) job specification and  (b) salary range associated with the post is.

Tessa Jowell: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Central Office of Information to reply to the hon. Member.
	 Letter from Mark Lund, dated October 2009:
	As Chief Executive of the Central Office of Information (COI), I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question (290124).
	(a) This is a new post.
	(b) The post does form part of the Government Communications Network.
	(c) The job specification and salary range are contained in the attached document.
	A copy of the Job Specification was posted on our website as part of the recruitment process, and has now been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Public Relations

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which public relations companies were awarded the contracts arising from the Central Office of Information Framework Agreement with contract reference 2007/S 156-194886; and what the total value was of the Framework Agreement.

Tessa Jowell: I have asked the chief executive of the Central Office of Information to reply to the hon. Member.
	 Letter from Mark Lund, dated October 2009:
	asking which public relations companies were awarded contracts arising from the COI Framework Agreement with the contract reference 2007/S 156-194886; and what the total value of the Framework Agreement.
	The Framework Agreement relates to the Marketing Aimed at Culturally Diverse Audiences Framework which commenced in 2007.
	The estimated value of the Framework is between £7 million and £12 million, however the total value of the framework will not be known until its expiry in 2012.
	The following agencies have subsequently been awarded contracts from it;
	Mediareach
	Media Moguls
	Livity
	Linstock Communications
	Here  Now

Renewables Advisory Board

Nick Hurd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bath of 26 March 2009,  Official Report, column 710W, on the Renewables Advisory Board, what the  (a) title and  (b) subject matter is of each public information film by the Central Office of Information since 2005; and which production company produced each such film.

Tessa Jowell: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Central Office of Information to reply to the hon. Member.
	 Letter from Mark Lund, dated October 2009:
	As Chief Executive of the Central Office of Information (COI), I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question on Public Information Films (290131).
	A list of all public Information films, together with subject matter and Production Company since 2005 has been placed in the Library.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Guyana: Rain Forests

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding his Department has provided to Guyana for rainforest preservation in each of the last three years; what estimate he has made of the acreage of rainforest protected as a result of such funding; and what agreements he has reached with the Government of Guyana on such funding in the next five years.

Michael Foster: The Department for International Development (DFID) has committed to spend approximately £130,000 in the current financial year ending 31 March 2010 to support the implementation of a low carbon growth and rainforest protection strategy in Guyana. In 2008-09, we provided £313,000 towards the development of the prospectus and implementation plan for this strategy. The strategy aims to protect Guyana's 15 million hectares of rainforest. No funds were provided to Guyana for rainforest protection in either of the two previous years. No agreements have yet been reached on funding for rainforest protection in the next five years.
	Guyana is also a participant in the World Bank's Forest Carbon Partnership Fund (to which the UK has contributed £15 million) and recently submitted its Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation Readiness Plan. DFID officials regularly discuss forest protection with their Guyanese counterparts.

Sri Lanka: International Assistance

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on the role of the International Organisation for Migration in the distribution of humanitarian aid in Sri Lanka.

Michael Foster: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is kept regularly informed of the Department for International Development's (DFID) funding allocations and the work of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Sri Lanka.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

I Will Write Replies

Mark Oaten: To ask the Leader of the House with reference to the written ministerial statement of 21 July 2004,  Official Report, column 35WS, on I Will Write replies, whether the arrangements for publication in  Hansard of I Will Write letters remain in force; and whether they apply to letters written by chief executives of Government agencies and non-departmental public bodies providing information in response to parliamentary questions.

Barbara Keeley: On those occasions where an I Will Write answer is necessary, a copy of the subsequent substantive response will be sent to  Hansard, to be printed with the written answers in the next edition.
	The guidance on letters written by chief executives of Government agencies and non-departmental public bodies, in response to parliamentary questions, is outlined in the recently published 'Guide to Parliamentary Work:'
	'Letters written by chief executives of Government agencies and non-departmental public bodies, in response to parliamentary questions, should be sent to the  Official Report for printing, unless it contains personal or confidential information. If the letter is longer than the  Official Report would normally publish notification will be printed that the response is available in the Library of the House.'
	The hon. Gentleman can view the full 'Guide to Parliamentary Work' through the Cabinet Office website at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/parliamentary-clerk-guide.aspx

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Biofuels

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many biomass plants there are in the UK.

Joan Ruddock: Records of biomass power plants accredited under the Renewables Obligation are kept by Ofgem on their searchable Renewables and CHP Register at:
	https://www.renewablesandchp.ofgem.gov.uk/Public/ReportManager.aspx?ReportVisibility=1ReportCategory=0
	The total number of power plants in all biomass categories recorded as of 30 October 2009 is 623, of which 400 record their biomass feedstock as landfill gas. The remaining 223 include anaerobic digestion, energy from waste, sewage gas, co-firing and CHP as well as plant using virgin biomass. Records are not kept centrally of the number of biomass heat only plants. However, with the planned introduction of the RHI in 2011, such information may become available, as part of the administration of the scheme.

Biofuels: Treaties

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what biofuel partnership agreements there are between the Government and the Government of  (a) Brazil,  (b) Mozambique and  (c) South Africa; how much funding the Government have committed under each such agreement; what assessment he has made of the likely benefits to the UK of such agreements; and if he will make a statement.

David Kidney: The Brazil-UK-Southern Africa Biofuels Taskforce is a partnership agreed between the Governments of Brazil and the UK and the Southern African Development Community. The aim of the partnership is to support sustainable biofuel production in Southern Africa and the taskforce is part of the UK's agenda for promoting low carbon growth internationally. To date, the UK Government have committed approximately £10,000 to pay for scoping work.

Fossil Fuel Levy: Scotland

Adam Ingram: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the balance of the Scottish Fossil Fuel Levy account was at 1 October 2009; and what representations he has received from the Scottish Executive on the drawdown and utilisation of the fund for the promotion of energy use from renewable resources.

David Kidney: holding answer 26 October 2009
	The Scottish Executive have made representations to DECC regarding the Scottish Fossil Fuel Levy account. The balance of the account was £170 million on 1 October.

Fuel Poverty

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many  (a) people and  (b) households were in fuel poverty in each region in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

David Kidney: Fuel poverty is measured at household level rather than at individual level.
	The Department's latest estimates for fuel poverty are for 2007, available online at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/fuelpov_stats/fuelpov_stats.aspx
	The following table provides the number of households in fuel poverty for each English region:
	
		
			  Number of house holds in fuel poverty 
			  Thousand 
			  Government  Office Region  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 North East 95 103 126 179 206 
			 East Midlands 112 101 145 236 272 
			 East of England 115 141 155 224 253 
			 London 108 119 120 254 309 
			 North West 178 190 268 415 472 
			 South East 149 133 169 291 333 
			 South West 139 134 181 256 259 
			 West Midlands 146 153 197 304 383 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 180 163 169 273 333 
			 Total 1,222 1,236 1,529 2,432 2,819

Natural Gas: Storage

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 12 October 2009,  Official Report, column 483W, on Natural Gas: Storage, what the minimum amount of gas in storage over the winter is required under the safety monitor system.

David Kidney: holding answer 20 October 2009
	In the Winter Outlook Report 2009-10 National Grid's preliminary assessment of storage requirements for Safety Monitors this winter is 100 million cubic metres (mcm) of storage space and 60 mcm/d of storage deliverability. National Grid may revise this assessment during the course of the winter if appropriate.

Nuclear Weapons

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change when he expects to receive the annual report from the Director of the Office for Civil Nuclear Security; and what consideration was given to publishing the report in August 2009.

David Kidney: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received a copy of the report.
	The report was published and deposited in Parliament on 8 October. There is not a set timetable for publication and the report was published as soon as was practical.

Planning Act 2008

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which draft national policy statements under the Planning Act 2008 for which his Department is responsible he expects to publish before March 2010.

David Kidney: holding answer 2 November 2009
	The Department intends to publish a suite of six energy national policy statements for consultation during autumn 2009.
	This will include an overarching national policy statement for energy and five technology-specific national policy statements on: fossil fuel electricity generation; renewable energy generation; gas supply infrastructure and gas and oil pipelines; electricity networks and nuclear power generation.

Radioactive Waste: Waste Disposal

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change which companies based in  (a) France,  (b) Sweden,  (c) the United States and  (d) the UK have made applications under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 for authorisation to dispose of low level nuclear waste in the UK; on what date each application was made; and what the status of each such application is.

David Kidney: Applications made under the Radioactive Substances Act 1993 for authorisation to dispose of low level nuclear waste in the UK are listed in the following table by company and site. This list represents the most recent applications by these companies.
	
		
			  Application date  Company and premises  Status 
			 November 2003 British Energy, Torness Power Station, (Now British Energy Generation Ltd, part of EDF Energy) (1)- 
			 November 2003 British Energy, Hunterston B Power Station, (Now British Energy Generation Ltd, part of EDF Energy) (1)- 
			 October 2006 Babcock Engineering Services, Rosyth Dockyard (1)- 
			 November 2007 and June 2009 Magnox North Ltd, Chapelcross Works (2)- 
			 April 2008 Dounreay Site Restoration Limited, Dounreay (2)- 
			 May 2009 Waste Recycling Ltd, Lillyhall Landfill Site Cumbria (2)- 
			 July 2009 Auguean South Ltd, East Northants Resource Management facility, Kings Cliffe, Northamptonshire (2)- 
			 (1) Determined and granted. (2) Being determined.

Warm Front Scheme

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of those who have qualified for support under the Warm Front scheme are in receipt of each type of non-taxable social security benefit.

David Kidney: holding answer 2 November 2009
	The following table details the proportion of households assisted by the Warm Front scheme who are in receipt of each type of qualifying benefit (all qualifying benefits are non-taxable).
	
		
			  Benefit type  Percentage per total households assisted 
			 Attendance allowance 11.62 
			 Child benefit 2.24 
			 Child tax credit 20.26 
			 Constant attendance allowance 0.09 
			 Council tax benefit 10.08 
			 Disability living allowance 27.79 
			 Disability premium 1.87 
			 Disabled persons tax credit 0.01 
			 Housing benefit 1.19 
			 Income based employment and support allowance 0.05 
			 Income based job seekers allowance 0.85 
			 Income support 5.95 
			 Industrial injuries disablement benefit 0.09 
			 Lone parent family 0.39 
			 Maternity certificate (Mat B1) 0.09 
			 Mobility supplement 0.23 
			 Pension credit 24.08 
			 State pension as main source of income 0.02 
			 War disablement pension 0.18 
			 Working families tax credit 0.08 
			 Working tax credit 2.28 
			  Note: Dates: June 2005 to 31 August 2009 
		
	
	Some households will be in receipt of more than one benefit, such households have been counted against each individual benefit.

TREASURY

EU Budget

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he expects the net UK contribution to the EU budget to be in  (a) 2009 and  (b) 2013.

Ian Pearson: The Government's latest forecast of UK net contributions to the European Community budget for 2009-10 is £4.1 billion, which is 0.6 per cent. of total managed expenditure. In line with all other public expenditure estimates, the Treasury does not currently publish forecasts beyond 2010-11.

Unemployment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the economy of the level of unemployment.

Liam Byrne: In this current downturn unemployment remains below levels at a similar stage compared to the early 1990s. Our substantial investment in getting people back to work is helping ensure 3 million people have left the claimant count since the end of 2008.

Capital Projects

Clive Betts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effect on the economy of bringing forward expenditure on capital projects.

Liam Byrne: The Chancellor forecast in this year's Budget that the country will return to growth at the turn of the year as a result of measures taken by this Government including the fiscal stimulus package. These additional investments are already supporting a number of industries and employing people across the country. An update on the economic position will be given in the pre-Budget report.

Small Businesses

Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent fiscal measures his Department has taken to support small businesses during the recession.

Ian Pearson: Support for small businesses has included extending loss relief, deferring the increase in corporation tax for small companies and helping businesses spread tax payments through the Business Payment Support Service. This service has now made over 220,000 agreements with business, worth almost £4 billion of tax.
	In addition, the Enterprise Finance Guarantee, by 28 October, had offered over 6,100 businesses loans totalling approximately £620 million.

National Debt

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the UK's national debt is.

Ian Pearson: Public sector net debt at the end of the 2008-09 financial year stood at 43.2 per cent. of GDP, excluding financial sector interventions.

Equitable Life

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what timetable has been set for the payment of compensation to Equitable Life policyholders; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: As I announced in the House on 21 October 2009, the Government have asked Sir John Chadwick to submit his final report by spring 2010. We will consider his advice as quickly as possible and announce a payment scheme that is practical to deliver and fair to both policyholders and taxpayers.

Child Care Vouchers

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies were participating in the childcare voucher scheme at the latest date for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: The most recent published research, commissioned by HM Revenue and Customs in 2006, by the National Centre for Social Research estimated that there were 9,600 organisations providing child care vouchers in late 2005. The report is available at
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/research/research-report23.htm.

Business Payment Support Service

Don Touhig: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on small businesses of the operation of the business payment support service.

Stephen Timms: Since its introduction on 24 November 2008 the Business Payment Support Service has agreed over 220,300 time to pay arrangements with businesses to spread tax payments of about £3.9 billion. This has helped to support more than 150,000 businesses, the vast majority of whom are small and medium sized, that employ an estimated 600,000 people. Just over 90 per cent. by value of the payments due under time to pay arrangements are being paid on time.
	While we have made no formal assessment of the effect on small businesses, businesses tell us that they have found the service very helpful by giving them the breathing space they need and by helping them pay their tax bills in a managed and structured way with the full help and support of HMRC.

Child Tax Credit: Expenditure

Kelvin Hopkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of  (a) child tax credit and  (b) child benefit for families with children aged 16 to 19 years in full-time education and training in 2008-09; what proportion of this expenditure were paid to families with gross incomes of over (i) £25,000, (ii) £40,000, (iii) £60,000 and (iv) £100,000 per year; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: No such estimates have been made.

Climate Change Levy

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what exemptions there are to the application of the climate change levy in respect of the burning of recovered fuel oil in industrial manufacturing processes.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Recovered fuel oil is a hydrocarbon oil within the meaning of the Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979 and as such is outside the scope of the climate change levy. Therefore, the burning of recovered fuel oil in any process, not just industrial manufacturing, will not be subject to the climate change levy.

Coinage: Counterfeit Manufacturing

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to reduce the number of counterfeit coins in circulation.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Royal Mint is working with banks, the Post Office, cash handling and sorting businesses, the police and the vending industry to remove counterfeit £1 coins from circulation before they reach the pockets of members of the public. Coin handling businesses, such as banks and the Post Office, handle over three billion £1 coins every year. They use high-speed, automated systems to process customer deposits and prepare coin for reissue. These automated systems are capable of detecting and withdrawing a significant number of counterfeit coins. All counterfeit coins detected from coin processing are sent to the Royal Mint for disposal.
	The Royal Mint holds awareness seminars to educate the public and the coin handling industry on how to identify counterfeits, and has issued educational leaflets and posters.
	The Royal Mint is also working with other validator and coin sorting manufactures to help improve the counterfeit detection rate.

Coinage: Counterfeit Manufacturing

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent estimate he has made of the number of counterfeit  (a) £1 and  (b) £2 coins in circulation.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The most recent survey conducted by the Royal Mint found that its sample contained a £1 coin counterfeit rate of 2.52 per cent. or approximately £37 million.
	The Royal Mint does not currently undertake regular surveys for other denominations. It is widely believed (by the Royal Mint, the Serious Organised Crime Agency and industry partners) that there is not a significant counterfeit issue with any other denominations.
	Some £2 counterfeit coins have been returned to the Mint but the quantities are minimal and they are of a poor quality.

Departmental Non-Domestic Rates

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the rateable value of HM Treasury building was  (a) in 2009-10, based on the 2005 Rating List and  (b) on the draft 2010 rating List.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The rateable values of the Treasury Building are:
	2005 Rating List: £7,300,000;
	Draft 2010 Rating List £12,870,000.

Economic Growth

David Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his most recent assessment is of the level of growth in the UK economy compared with those of other OECD economies; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: All member economies of the OECD have been affected by the global recession. The OECD's Interim Assessment in September noted that there are signs of confidence returning across the world economy and to financial markets. However, complacency remains our biggest risk and the G20 Finance Ministers have agreed to continue delivering the necessary support measures until recovery is secured. The Chancellor will publish his latest assessment of conditions in the UK and world economies in the Pre-Budget Report later this autumn.

Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

Paul Rowen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much alcohol duty has been collected since the increase in the level of duty implemented in April 2009;
	(2)  how much alcohol duty has been collected since the increase in the level of duty implemented in December 2008;
	(3)  how much is estimated to be collected in alcohol duty in the next 12 months.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Total alcohol duty received by the Exchequer is published on a monthly basis in the National Statistics Beer and Cider bulletin available at:
	https://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=bullbeer
	The forecast revenue for 2009-10 from alcohol duty is published in table C.6 of the 2009 Financial Statement and Budget Report. This can be found at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/bud09_completereport_2520.pdf
	HM Revenue and Customs do not publish part-year breakdowns of this forecast.

Excise Duties: Alcoholic Drinks

Paul Rowen: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions officials of his Department have had with representatives of the public house industry on alcohol duty; and if he will make a statement.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Treasury officials receive representations from a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such representations.

Housing: Sales

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the answer to Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay of 13 October 2009,  Official Report, House of Lords, column 24WA, on stamp duty, what estimate has been made of the  (a) number of house transactions and  (b) average level of house prices for (i) first-time buyers and (ii) all buyers in each year from 2010-11 to 2013-14.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Government do not publish a forecast of property transactions or a forecast of the average level of house-prices.
	For the purposes of the public finance projections the Treasury uses an assumption for the level of the house prices in each year of the forecast horizon. This assumption is based on an average of independent external forecasts and audited by the National Audit Office. Details of the assumed level of house prices can be found in paragraphs B.76 and B.77 of the Budget Report (HC 407).

National Insurance Fund

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the National Insurance Fund had  (a) received and  (b) paid out on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Stephen Timms: Receipts into and payments out of the National Insurance Fund (NIF) are shown in the annual NIF accounts. The latest published accounts are for the year 2007-08, available at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/ni-fund-ac-gb-0708.pdf

Presbyterian Mutual Society

Lady Hermon: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons the Financial Services Authority did not investigate the financial activities of the Presbyterian Mutual Society prior to its entering administration in November 2008.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Presbyterian Mutual Society (PMS) was registered by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1969. As such, it was exempt from regulation by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) in respect of accepting deposits in the form of withdrawable share capital up to the statutory maximum of £20,000. Therefore, the FSA did not have cause to investigate the financial activities of the PMS prior to its entering administration in 2008. It has since been established that the PMS was conducting regulated activities which required FSA authorisation, but that it did so without having sought and obtained the necessary authorisation.

Public Expenditure

Andrew George: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the accuracy of records of  (a) tax take and  (b) public expenditure held at (i) local authority and (ii) regional level.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: The Treasury does not publish a breakdown of total taxes by region and local authority and does not produce a breakdown of total public spending by local authority. However, it publishes a breakdown of total identifiable public spending by region in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/pesa09_chapter9.pdf
	The Treasury continuously looks to improve the quality of these data and data improvements in recent years are described in each annual publication of Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses.

Taxation: Aviation

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on the effect on the UK freight industry of changes in the taxation of aviation.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Government consulted on a per plane tax in early 2008, and before taking the decision to reform APD, the Chancellor took representations from a range of stakeholders, including other ministers, as per the usual process in tax development.

Taxation: Gaming Machines

Don Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many requests for meetings on his Department's consultation on the taxation of gaming machines his Department has received in the last 12 months; and how many such requests have resulted in a meeting with Ministers.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: Treasury Ministers and officials meet with a wide range of organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors as part of the usual policy making process. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.

Taxation: Gaming Machines

Don Foster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when his Department plans to publish its response to its recent consultation on the taxation of gaming machines.

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: HM Treasury's formal consultation on the taxation of gaming machines was launched on 16 July 2009 and concluded on 23 October 2009.
	In line with the Government's code of practice on consultation, the responses will be analysed carefully and, in due course, feedback will be provided to participants.

Taxation: Ministers of Religion

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to HM Revenue and Customs tax manual advice EIM60007, ministers of religion: exemption of income: overview; what Freedom of Information Act 2000 exemptions apply to the text that has been withheld from publication.

Stephen Timms: The part of the guidance that has been withheld is for use by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) staff that require advice on this matter and contains a internal hyperlink that takes them to the person who can help. The withheld text states:
	If a claim to benefit from the special rules is pressed but you are doubtful whether the claimant can be regarded as a minister, consult PAYE Technical.
	The published guidance incorrectly states that this has been withheld on freedom of information grounds, rather than for internal use. HMRC will update this guidance to correct this error and place the withheld guidance, minus the hyperlink, into the public domain.

Valuation Office: Geographical Information Systems

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission a privacy impact assessment in respect of the Valuation Office Agency's Geographical Information System.

Ian Pearson: The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) provides guidance on the use of PIAs. The ICO envisages PIAs only being used where a project is of such a wide scope, or will use personal information of such a nature, that there would be genuine risks to the privacy of the individual. PIAs will usually be recommended where a change of the law would be required, new and intrusive technology is being used, or where private or sensitive information which was originally collected for a limited purpose is going to be re-used in a new and unexpected way.
	I am advised that the Valuation Office Agency's geographical information system project does not pose a risk to the privacy of an individual.

Valuation Office: Training

Bob Neill: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Meriden, of 21 May 2009,  Official Report, column 1514W, on Valuation Office: training, if he will place in the Library an electronic copy of the e-Learning Programmes in Module 5 on council tax.

Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) on 22 October 2009,  Official Report, columns 1676-77W.

JUSTICE

Driving Under Influence

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many drivers convicted of driving in each police authority when under the influence of alcohol or drugs in the East of England in each year since 1999 had previous convictions for the same offence.  [Official Report, 15 December 2009, Vol. 502, c. 1MC.]

Claire Ward: The figures requested are shown in the following table.
	These figures have been drawn from the police's administrative IT system, the police national computer (PNC), which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible errors with data entry and processing. The figures are provisional and subject to change as more information is recorded by the police.
	
		
			  Number of drivers convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs( 1)  in the East of England, 2000-08, with a previous conviction( 2)  for the same offence 
			  Force  Number of drivers convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs (East of England)  Number of these drivers with a previous conviction for the same offence  Percentage of drivers with a previous conviction for the same offence 
			  2000
			 Bedfordshire 601 101 16.8 
			 Cambridgeshire 645 78 12.1 
			 Essex 1,985 268 13.5 
			 Hertfordshire 1,287 187 14.5 
			 Norfolk 893 115 12.9 
			 Suffolk 713 77 10.8 
			 Grand Total 6,124 826 13.5 
			 
			  2001
			 Bedfordshire 725 132 18.2 
			 Cambridgeshire 675 107 15.9 
			 Essex 2,008 312 15.5 
			 Hertfordshire 1,417 216 15.2 
			 Norfolk 897 129 14.4 
			 Suffolk 785 112 14.3 
			 Grand Total 6,507 1,008 15.5 
			 
			  2002
			 Bedfordshire 769 165 21.5 
			 Cambridgeshire 742 131 17.7 
			 Essex 2,149 396 18.4 
			 Hertfordshire 1,669 289 17.3 
			 Norfolk 1,040 164 15.8 
			 Suffolk 924 162 17.5 
			 Grand Total 7,293 1,307 17.9 
			 
			  2003
			 Bedfordshire 920 206 22.4 
			 Cambridgeshire 833 176 21.1 
			 Essex 2,280 478 21.0 
			 Hertfordshire 1,655 327 19.8 
			 Norfolk 1,081 212 19.6 
			 Suffolk 1,030 185 18.0 
			 Grand Total 7,799 1,584 20.3 
			 
			  2004
			 Bedfordshire 938 191 20.4 
			 Cambridgeshire 996 191 19.2 
			 Essex 2,491 540 21.7 
			 Hertfordshire 1,677 337 20.1 
			 Norfolk 1,095 213 19.5 
			 Suffolk 1,129 213 18.9 
			 Grand Total 8,326 1,685 20.2 
			 
			  2005
			 Bedfordshire 958 231 24.1 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,192 246 20.6 
			 Essex 2,356 560 23.8 
			 Hertfordshire 1,717 387 22.5 
			 Norfolk 1,140 244 21.4 
			 Suffolk 987 219 22.2 
			 Grand Total 8,350 1,887 22.6 
			 
			  2006
			 Bedfordshire 1,037 241 23.2 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,202 251 20.9 
			 Essex 2,557 580 22.7 
			 Hertfordshire 1,810 432 23.9 
			 Norfolk 1,226 268 21.9 
			 Suffolk 1,054 236 22.4 
			 Grand Total 8,886 2,008 22.6 
			 
			  2007
			 Bedfordshire 999 268 26.8 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,186 265 22.3 
			 Essex 2,472 572 23.1 
			 Hertfordshire 1,862 421 22.6 
			 Norfolk 1,222 299 24.5 
			 Suffolk 993 199 20.0 
			 Grand Total 8,734 2,024 23.2 
			 
			  2008
			 Bedfordshire 877 233 26.6 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,060 258 24.3 
			 Essex 2,380 582 24.5 
			 Hertfordshire 1,662 408 24.5 
			 Norfolk 1,057 257 24.3 
			 Suffolk 878 220 25.1 
			 Grand Total 7,914 1,958 24.7 
			 (1) The data include a range of offences under the Road Traffic Act. They can be found in sections 4(1), 5(1) (a), 7(6), 4(2), 5(1) (b), 6(4) and 7A as amended by the Police Reform Act 2002 and the Transport and Works Act 2002. (2) Previous convictions are taken whether committed in East of England of elsewhere in England and Wales.

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 12 October 2009,  Official Report, column 102W, on departmental ministerial policy advisers, whether his special advisers signed waivers under the European Working Time Directive.

Jack Straw: As I said in my previous answer to the hon. Gentleman, I am told that working for me is pure pleasure and stress free. It is very generous of the hon. Gentleman to be so concerned for the welfare of my special advisers but I can inform him that given how much they enjoy working for me, they have not felt the need to sign waivers under the European Work Time Directive.

Offenders: Radicalism

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what intervention strategies his Department has developed to work with extremist offenders;
	(2)  what group work programmes his Department has accredited for use with convicted of offences related to terrorism  (a) in prison and  (b) on release in the community.

Jack Straw: The National Offender Management Service is taking forward a wide-ranging programme of work to manage the risks of violent extremism and radicalisation among offenders. Part of this programme includes work to research, develop and evaluate potential intervention approaches.
	Given the comparatively low number of terrorist offenders and the different motivations and behaviours they present in relation to their offending, it is difficult to identify with statistical significance and reliability factors associated with terrorist offending or reoffending. Therefore prison and probation staff need to use all available sources of evidence to assess the risk of serious harm or reconviction which terrorist offenders pose, and to identify appropriate intervention strategies.
	For any intervention to be effective it will need to target the reasons why people offend which are different for each individual. There are currently no group work programmes specifically accredited for use with those convicted of offences related to terrorism. NOMS is working to understand the potential use of a wide range of intervention strategies which may help combat violent extremist offending and address the criminogenic factors of the individual violent extremist offender.

Offensive Weapons

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans his Department has to introduce mandatory sentences for carrying a knife in a public place.

Jack Straw: We have no plans to introduce mandatory sentences for carrying a knife in a public place. Mandatory sentences are only considered in truly exceptional circumstances. They can have serious drawbacks in some circumstances; because of their inflexibility they cannot easily respond to the circumstances of each offence so they can lead to unjust outcomes. But we have doubled the maximum sentence for possession of an offensive weapon in a public place from two to four years, which allows the courts to impose higher penalties in appropriate cases. We also welcomed last summer's new sentencing guidelines that provide for a starting point of three months custody for possession of a knife. Since then, sentencing has become more severe for this offence: more people are going to prison, and for longer.
	We will shortly be making an announcement on the outcome of the review as to whether the starting point for adults convicted of murder using a knife currently 15 years under schedule 21 to the Criminal Justice Act 2003 should be raised.

Prisoners Release: Terrorism

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what measures are in place to ensure adequate supervision of offenders convicted under anti-terrorism legislation who have subsequently been released under supervision;
	(2)  if he will use actuarial risk assessment methods to score the risk of reoffending of each person convicted under anti-terrorism legislation which has subsequently been released under supervision;
	(3)  what resources have been allocated to the Probation Service to supervise persons convicted under anti-terrorist legislation and subsequently released into the community under supervision;
	(4)  whether persons convicted under anti-terrorism legislation who are subsequently released into the community are allocated to tier 4 of his Department's Offender Management Model; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: All terrorist offenders fall to be managed in the community under the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA). MAPPA are a statutory set of arrangements, in which the police, prison and probation services are required to assess and manage the risk posed by offenders posing a high risk of harm. The MAPPA Guidance, issued by the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to Section 325(8) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, now includes a chapter on the management of terrorist offenders. Under that statutory guidance, chief officers of probation are required to ensure that cases involving terrorist offenders are allocated to an experienced offender manager.
	In addition, offenders released having served a sentence of 12 months or more will be subject to statutory supervision on licence by the Probation Service, with six standard conditions. Additional licence conditions can be recommended by the offender manager to manage the risks posed by a particular case. Such additional licence conditions can include restrictions on internet use and contact with named individuals.
	Where appropriate, terrorist offenders will be supervised on release in approved premises. Approved premises provide for enhanced level of supervision for high risk of harm offenders on release from custody into the community.
	Probation staff are required to assess offenders' risk of reoffending and risk of harm, including offenders convicted of terrorist or terrorism-related offences, using OASys (Offender Assessment System). One element of OASys is an actuarial risk of reoffending score. The predictors of the likelihood of proven reoffending relate to groups within the overall offender population. Given the comparatively low numbers of terrorist offenders, it is difficult to identify with statistical significance and reliability factors associated with terrorist reoffending. Therefore, along with the OASys assessment, offender managers need to use all available sources of evidence to assess the risk of serious harm or reconviction which terrorist offenders pose. All high-risk offenders are allocated to Tier 4 of the Offender Management model.
	The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) spends significant sums of money in delivering its responsibilities of protecting the public and reducing reoffending. In addition to the ongoing costs involved in managing terrorist offenders on licence, NOMS is taking forward a multi-disciplinary programme of work funded by the Office of Security and Counter Terrorism (OSCT). This year OSCT has provided £5.5 million to the programme and this includes money specifically to support probation areas. In addition, those cases assessed as presenting the highest levels of imminent risk of harm, including those convicted of terrorism or terrorism related offences, can be registered as Critical Public Protection Cases (CPPC). CPPC registration enables the responsible authority, normally the probation service, to apply for additional funding to strengthen local risk management plans.

Prisoners Release: Young Offender Institutions

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what percentage of young adults released from young offender institutions went to  (a) housing provided by family members,  (b) housing provided by local authorities,  (c) housing provided by charities,  (d) an unknown address and  (e) another destination in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what proportion of young adults released from young offender institutions were provided with accommodation by his Department in the last five years for which figures are available;
	(3)  how many young adults left  (a) Reading Young Offender Institution and  (b) all young offender institutions without (i) employment or (ii) accommodation in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: Data on the provider of housing for offenders on discharge from prison are not recorded in the form specified in the questions. However data are held on the type of accommodation to which offenders are discharged.
	The following table shows the proportion of young adults discharged from prison establishments in 2007 and 2008 by type of accommodation. Data for previous years are not available.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   2007  2008 
			 Permanent independent housing 83 84 
			 Supported housing 2 2 
			 Bail/Probation hostel 3 3 
			 Transient/short-term accommodation 5 3 
			 No fixed abode 4 3 
			 No information 3 4 
		
	
	The following tables show the numbers of young adults discharged without any accommodation or employment from  (a) Reading YOI and  (b) all prison establishments in 2007 and 2008. Data for previous years are not available.
	
		
			  Reading discharges 
			   2007  2008 
			 Without accommodation Less than 10 Less than 10 
			 Without employment 20 Less than 10 
			 Total discharges 330 300 
		
	
	
		
			  All young adults 
			   2007  2008 
			 Without accommodation 610 520 
			 Without employment 3,400 3,900 
			 Total discharges 16,100 16,800 
		
	
	Numbers below 1,000 have been rounded to the nearest 10. Numbers over 1,000 have been rounded to the nearest 100.
	These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoners: Suicide

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people 
	(1)  on home detention curfew committed suicide between 1999 and 2009;
	(2)  released on an early release scheme committed suicide in  (a) 2006,  (b) 2007 and  (c) 2008.

Claire Ward: The home detention curfew, early removal and end of custody licence schemes enable eligible prisoners to be released from prison earlier than the half-way point of their sentence. NOMS does not collect data centrally on the numbers of self-inflicted deaths of such offenders after they have been released into the community.
	The National Offender Management Service has a broad, integrated and evidence-based prisoner suicide prevention and self-harm management strategy that seeks to reduce the distress of all those in prison and to ensure that released at-risk prisoners receive comparable support to that received in prison. As part of the pre-release care planning process, offender managers must be informed of any risk of harm to self or others and the management strategies which have been tried in the prison setting. Prisons have local protocols in place which seek to ensure that at-risk prisoners are linked with community based organisations providing support after release.

Prisons: Greater Manchester

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the level of overcrowding in prisons serving the Greater Manchester area; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: For the financial year April to September 2009 the average rate of overcrowding for prisons serving the Greater Manchester area were as follows:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 Buckley Hall 17.9 
			 Forest Bank 58.2 
			 Hindley 0 
			 Manchester 53.4 
		
	
	It remains our priority to reduce overcrowding by increasing capacity through building new prisons, expanding existing prisons and making more effective use of the estate.

Reoffenders

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many people on home detention curfew reoffended between 1999 and 2009;
	(2)  how many people released under an early release scheme reoffended in  (a) 2006,  (b) 2007 and  (c) 2008.

Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Justice records the number of alleged offences while on early custody licence (ECL) and has recently released figures of offenders who reoffended while on home detention curfew (HDC).
	Data on ECL releases, recalls and alleged reoffending are published every month on the following website:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/endofcustodylicence.htm
	During the period 29 June 2007 (the start of the scheme) to 30 September 2009 (the latest data available), 1,058 offenders have been notified to the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) as alleged to have committed a further offence while on the scheme. Table 1 gives the further breakdown by period.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of offenders alleged to have committed a further offence while on ECL by period 
			   29 June to 31 December 2007  1 January to 31 December 2008  1 January to 30 September 2009 
			 Total ECL releases 16,197 31,318 22,362 
			 Offenders alleged to have committed the further offences while on ECL(1) 215 497 346 
			 (1) The number of offenders notified to NOMS as having allegedly reoffended during their period on ECL. 
		
	
	The latest figures on reoffending while on home detention curfew were released by this Department in a written ministerial statement on 14 September 2009,  Official Report, columns 142-44WS Table 2 gives the number of offenders who have been convicted for an offence while on HDC between 2003-04 and 2007-08.
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of offenders who have been convicted for an offence while on HDC ,  2003-04 to 2007-08, England and Wales 
			   Offenders on HDC  Offenders who reoffended while on HDC 
			 2003-04 20,802 1,244 
			 2004-05 18,587 839 
			 2005-06 15,443 688 
			 2006-07 12,626 484 
			 2007-08 11,316 486 
		
	
	Data prior to 2003-04 are not available. This statement is available from the Library of the House.
	The Ministry of Justice will be consulting on the publication of data in respect of offenders who reoffend while on licence in due course.

Secure Accommodation: Young Offender Institutions

Rudi Vis: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the statutory authority is for placing children in secure training centres; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Secure training centres were established by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, and the Youth Justice Board (YJB) was established by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.
	The Youth Justice Board for England and Wales Order 2000 (SI 1160) amended the function of the YJB to include the authority to place young people into custody, including secure training centres, on behalf of the Secretary of State.

Secure Accommodation: Young Offenders

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what secure accommodation provision is in place for juvenile offenders from  (a) Reading,  (b) Berkshire and  (c) the South East.

Maria Eagle: There are no establishments in the under-18 secure estate in Reading or Berkshire. The Youth Justice Board commissions 941 beds in London and the South East comprising:
	Cookham Wood Young Offenders Institution
	Downview Young Offenders Institution
	Feltham Young Offenders Institution
	Huntercombe Young Offenders Institution
	Oakhill Secure Training Centre
	Medway Secure Training Centre
	Swanwick Lodge Secure Children's Home

Theft: Sentencing

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the  (a) maximum and  (b) minimum sentence is for the offence of the theft of a purse.

Jack Straw: The maximum penalty for theft is seven years' imprisonment. There is no minimum penalty.

Young Offenders: Education

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what educational assessments are carried out on each young offender entering each young offender institution, with particular reference to Reading Young Offender Institution.

Maria Eagle: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC), which commissions learning delivered in pubic sector prisons in England, requires its providers to assess an individual's basic skills level, particularly in numeracy, language and literacy, if assessment has not already taken place. The outcomes of the assessments are used to place offenders in appropriate learning.
	Reading prison and young offender institution undertakes this assessment as part of the induction programme for young offenders which also includes screening for dyslexia. In addition an individual diagnostic assessment is undertaken by tutors for offenders joining classes to improve literacy and/or numeracy in order to determine the individual's current level so that learning can be further tailored to individual requirements.

Young Offenders: Self-Harm

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many young offenders in custody  (a) committed suicide and  (b) self-harmed in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) collects data on self-inflicted deaths and self-harm for young offenders who are held in prison custody, and not for those held in secure training centres (STCs) and secure children's homes (SCHs). These establishments are the responsibility of the Youth Justice Board and local authorities respectively. Numbers of prisoner suicides and incidents of self-harm are collated from the NOMS incident reporting system in prisons.
	Tables 1 and 2 give the numbers of self-inflicted deaths and self-harming individuals respectively involving young offenders in prison custody for the years 2004 to 2008. The term Young Offenders covers young people aged 15 to 17 and young adults aged 18 to 21.
	
		
			  Table 1: Recorded numbers of self-inflicted deaths of young offenders, 2004 to 2008 
			  Age group  2004  2005  2006  2001  2008 
			 Young people 15 to 17 years - 2 - 1 - 
			 Young adults 18 to 21 years 6 10 2 6 5 
			 Total 6 12 2 7 5 
		
	
	NOMS' definition of self-inflicted deaths is broader than the legal definition of suicide and includes all deaths where it appears that a prisoner has acted specifically to take their own life. This inclusive approach is used in part because inquest verdicts are often not available for some years after a death (some 20 per cent. of these deaths will not receive a suicide or open verdict at inquest). Annual numbers may change slightly from time to time as inquest verdicts and other information become available.
	
		
			  Table 2: Recorded numbers of young offenders who have self-harmed for 2004 to 2008 
			  Age group  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Young people 15 to 17 years 317 434 381 344 430 
			 Young adults 18 to 21 years 970 1,053 1,124 1,140 1,194 
			  Note:  These are approximate numbers of individuals, based on incidents of self-harm where the prisoner number was recorded. Recorded self-harm is a high volume incident. The data are drawn from the prison administrative IT systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system. Nevertheless, the system provides a sensible indication of the numbers of incidents and individuals who self-harm but the numbers should not be treated as absolute. 
		
	
	Every death in prison is a tragedy, and affects families, staff and other prisoners deeply. Ministers, the Ministry of Justice and the National Offender Management Service are committed to learning from each death and to reducing the number of such incidents. Good care and support from staff save many lives, but such instances go largely unreported. Prisons successfully keep safe in any given month approximately 1,500 prisoners assessed to be at particular risk of suicide or self harm. Deaths in prisons are among the most scrutinised of all incidents and each case is subject to a police investigation and independent investigation by the prisons probation ombudsman. Robust systems are in place for monitoring deaths and learning from them.
	All prisoners identified as at risk of suicide or self-harm, including young offenders, are cared for using the assessment, care in custody and teamwork (ACCT) procedures. This is a prisoner-focussed care planning system for those at risk. Most self harm is not directly life threatening, but nevertheless can be extremely distressing for those who have to deal with it. There are no easy answers to managing self-harming behaviour but we remain committed to finding ways to reduce it.

HEALTH

Accident and Emergency Departments: Greater London

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the additional specialties required to provide the range of services to be offered at the proposed major trauma centre of St Mary's, Paddington; which of these specialties are available at the Royal Free Hospital; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of likely changes to the provision of accident and emergency services at  (a) Barnet Hospital,  (b) the Royal Free Hospital and  (c) Northwick Park Hospital following the entry into operation of the proposed new major trauma centres; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the likely change in the services to be provided at  (a) the Royal Free Hospital and  (b) Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals following the entry into operation of the proposed hyperacute stroke units in London; and if he will make a statement.
	(4)  what additional specialties are required to be established at the sites of each of the proposed major trauma centres in London; by what date such specialties will have been provided at each proposed site; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what date he has set for implementation of the proposed  (a) hyperacute stroke centres and  (b) major trauma centres in London; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  what progress has been made on the implementation of the plan for  (a) hyperacute stroke units and  (b) major trauma units; what steps the London Ambulance Service has taken to amend its provision of services in advance of the implementation of such units; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: This is a matter for NHS London and I have passed the question to the chief executive with a request to write to my hon. Friend.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Waiting Lists

Chloe Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average length of wait for treatment for a patient arriving at the Norfolk and Norwich University Trust Accident and Emergency facility was in  (a) May,  (b) June,  (c) July,  (d) August,  (e) September and  (f) October 2009.

Mike O'Brien: Information on average waiting times in accident and emergency (AE) facilities is not collected centrally. Trusts submit information on time spent from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge in hourly time bands. This information for Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust accident and emergency facilities is shown in the following table. This information is taken from the Quarterly Monitoring of Accident and Emergency dataset originally published on 14 August 2009 and revised 18 August 2009.
	
		
			  Department type  Time  bands (Hours)  Total attendances 
			 Type 1 (Consultant-led department) 0-1 3,208 
			  1-2 6,671 
			  2-3 5,572 
			  3-4 5,385 
			  Over 4 280 
			
			 Type 3 (Minor injuries unit) 0-1 2,284 
			  1-2 579 
			  2-3 71 
			  3-4 6 
			  Over 4 0 
			
			 Walk-in centre 0-1 7,037 
			  1-2 283 
			  2-3 6 
			  3-4 3 
			  Over 4 0 
		
	
	In the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, during the first quarter of 2009-10, there were a total of 31,385 attendances at accident and emergency facilities, and 99.11 per cent. of those patients were admitted, transferred or discharged less than four hours after arrival.

Aortic Aneurysm

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) hospitals and  (b) general practices provide ultra sound screening for aortic aneurysms, with particular reference to screening for men over 60 years old; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Information about the number of hospitals and general practices providing ultra sound screening for aortic aneurysms is not held centrally.
	Since the ministerial announcement in January 2008 of an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme for men aged 65, six early implementation sites are now offering screening to national standards. These are: West Sussex, Leicester, Gloucester, South Manchester, South Devon and Exeter, and South West London.
	Full implementation of the screening programme across England is expected by the end of 2012-13.

Blood: Contamination

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what date he plans to implement those recommendations in the Archer Report on contaminated blood and blood products which the Government have accepted.

Gillian Merron: The Government's response to Lord Archer's report was published on 20 May 2009. Implementation to date of the Government's response to the report is as follows:
	Recommendation 1 (A committee to advise the Government on the management of haemophilia)-the first meeting with the Haemophilia Alliance will be held on 20 November 2009. Representatives from the Health Departments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and a member from the independent advisory committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) have been invited to attend.
	Recommendations 2 and 3 (Haemophilia patients, their partners, and all blood donors to receive any tests recommended by the committee)-no specific implementation date required as any new relevant tests will be considered by the Alliance or SaBTO as and when they arise.
	Recommendation 4 (Free prescriptions and free access to other services not freely available under the national health service including...general practitioner visits, counselling, physiotherapy, home nursing and support services for those infected)-Professor Ian Gilmore's review of prescription charges in England for those with long term conditions, is due to report shortly. The Government will consider whether further action is required in England to implement Lord Archer's recommendation following the Gilmore review.
	Recommendation 5 (Secure future of Haemophilia Society by adequate funding)-the Government have committed £100,000 per annum funding to the Haemophilia Society for the next five years. The Department has discussed this with the Haemophilia Society on a number of occasions and is currently awaiting a written proposal from the Society to enable the funds to be released.
	Recommendation 6 (Financial assistance should be increased and take the form of prescribed periodic payments)-funding to the Macfarlane and Eileen Trusts (for HIV) is being increased in line with the Government response. Some administrative and legal changes have been needed to enable the trusts to make these new payments, but it is anticipated that beneficiaries should receive their new payments in December 2009 with any back-payments being made before the end of March 2010. All payments will be back-dated to 20 May 2009 and payments will be made to the estates of any individual who has died since 20 May 2009. As indicated in the Government response, the Skipton Fund (for hepatitis C) will be reviewed in 2014.
	Recommendation 7 (Access to insurance by providing premiums or setting up separate scheme)-no implementation date required as the Government's position is as outlined in its response.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress the NHS is making on the provision of breast screening for women in Hendon constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not held centrally. It is for local national health service organisations to plan, develop and improve services for local people.
	Nationally, breast screening is provided every three years for all women in England aged 50 and over. Currently, women aged between 50 to 70 years are invited routinely and women over the age of 70 can request free three-yearly screening.
	In September 2007, the Department announced proposals to extend the age range of women eligible for routine breast screening to women between the ages of 47 and 73 years by 2012. As a result, around 400,000 more women will be screened each year.
	The Cancer Reform Strategy, published in 2007 (a copy of which has already been placed in the Library), is supporting the roll out of digital mammography for breast screening, an x-ray examination of the breasts, which can show breast cancers at an early stage. For the roll out approximately £120 million has been allocated to NHS trusts as part of the wider capital funding. They must ensure that all breast screening units have at least one full-field digital mammography set by 2010.

Cancer

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to increase awareness of  (a) the symptoms of various forms of cancer and  (b) the practice of regular self-examination for such symptoms.

Ann Keen: Through the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative, we are raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of cancer among healthcare professionals and the general public, and encouraging those people with symptoms that may be cancer to seek advice as early as possible. This work includes developing key messages on a number of cancers, carrying out a baseline national cancer symptom awareness survey, commissioning an audit of cancer diagnoses in primary care, and providing funding for a number of cancer awareness campaigns.
	As part of the Initiative, almost £5 million has been allocated to the national health service to support cancer networks and primary care trusts in implementing local services that will improve awareness of cancers and promote early diagnosis.
	We do not promote the practice of routine self-examination for cancer symptoms as people's bodies, particularly women's, can feel different at different times. However, it is important that people are aware of their bodies and what is normal for them, and that they report any changes as early and as soon as possible. We have collaborated with Cancer Research UK to produce a breast awareness leaflet, Be Breast Aware, and a testicular cancer leaflet, Detecting Testicular Cancer -Spot the Symptoms Early.

Childbirth

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the rate of induced births was at each maternity unit in the NHS in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested. Tables which show delivery episodes where there was an induced labour in national health service hospitals, broken down by type of induced labour, hospital provider and trust, for the years 2006-07 to 2008-09, have been placed in the Library.

Dental Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether the new draft dental access contract was discussed with  (a) representative bodies and  (b) dental stakeholders before it was passed by his Department to primary care trusts;
	(2)  what timetable his Department has set for piloting the new draft dental access contract; and what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of those pilots.

Ann Keen: The Department's Dental Access Programme has been working with the national health service to increase patient access to NHS dentistry. As part of this it has been developing a contract template, based on the existing personal dental services (PDS) regulations to help primary care trusts (PCTs) to tender for new dental services in their area. The template, which is designed to be adaptable to local needs, includes a number of optional schedules for PCTs to choose what is best for their local circumstances. It is not a new contract: all of it is within the current PDS regulations. Its use is optional for PCTs, many of which are developing their own contracts, using the existing flexibilities within the regulations.
	The template, which is still being finalised, is intended to set out more clearly existing requirements, which might, at present, be in a number of documents, and to focus more clearly on quality of dental services, as well as volumes of activity. To ensure this is transparent and helpful we have been discussing the template with a wide range of interested parties including PCTs, the British Dental Association (BDA), and dental services providers, as well as Professor Jimmy Steele and his Independent Review team.
	A series of detailed meetings has taken place with the BDA-which has been engaged from the outset of the Dental Access Programme with presentations at the national provider workshops and attendance at regional strategic health authority/PCT workshops.
	Two national workshops for potential providers were held, in Manchester and London on 27 and 28 April 2009 respectively, to discuss the Department's plans for the development of the PDS Agreement and to take feedback from providers. The national workshops were followed by more focused meetings with a broad range of providers to discuss developments on the contract. Over 40 meetings have so far taken place.

Dental Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued to primary care trusts on the use of the new draft dental access contract as a basis for contractual discussions with prospective practitioners in  (a) existing and  (b) new practices.

Ann Keen: The contract template developed for the Dental Access Programme is intended to be available to primary care trusts (PCTs) to use for new procurements of new national health service dental services, if they wish. Comprehensive guidance, including several user guides (covering the contract provisions, insurance, pensions, premises etc.), will be provided for commissioning PCTs when the template is finalised. In addition, a series of workshops will be held regionally for strategic health authorities and PCTs, and e-mail/telephone technical support will be provided. The full programme of workshops and support available to PCTs will be confirmed when the template has been finalised.
	The Department is also planning regional workshops for interested providers to inform them of the developments made to the Personal Dental Services Agreement and to provide introductory information on procurement process-including information about how they can bid for new services.

Dental Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what timetable his Department has set for public consultation on the new draft dental access contract;
	(2)  what form the  (a) pilot and  (b) public consultation on the new draft dental access contract will take;
	(3)  in what ways the new draft dental access contract programme takes account of the recommendations made in the report on the Independent Review of NHS Dentistry.

Ann Keen: There is no new dental access contract. The contract template currently being developed by the Dental Access Programme is designed to be adaptable, and includes a number of optional schedules for primary care trusts (PCTs) to consider, based on what is best for their local circumstances. The template is within the current Personal Dental Services (PDS) regulations and Statement of Financial Entitlements. Its use is optional for PCTs, many of whom are developing their own contracts, using the existing flexibilities within the regulations.
	We intend, however, to use some of the contracts that PCTs will let using the new templates, to pilot aspects of improved quality and access, which were set out in the independent Steele Review of national health service dentistry. As part of the development of the contract template, members of the Dental Access Programme have discussed the quality provisions with members of the Steele Review team.
	No formal public consultation on the proposed, optional, PDS contract templates has been undertaken-nor is required. However, we have had a number of discussions with a wide range of interested parties including dentists, PCTs, and the British Dental Association over the previous six months.

Dental Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date his officials commenced drafting the new draft dental access contract; and on what date this work was completed.

Ann Keen: There is no new dental access contract. As part of its work to increase access to national health service dentistry, the Department's Dental Access Programme has been developing a new contract template, which is designed to be adaptable to local needs, and is within existing Personal Dental Services Regulations.
	Work on the template started in April of this year, and continues as we discuss it with interested parties. Discussions with interested parties have been ongoing since April-the British Dental Association supported the initial national provider workshops in April with presentations. We hope to finalise the template very soon.

Dental Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what dates his officials met external organisations during the preparation of the new draft dental access contract.

Ann Keen: There is no new dental access contract. As part of its work to increase access to national health service dentistry, the Department's Dental Access Programme has been developing a new contract template, which is designed to be adaptable to local needs, and is within existing Personal Dental Services Regulations. The template documents have been discussed with a wide number of organisations and interested parties. Over 40 meetings have so far taken place.

Dental Services

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of drafting the new draft dental access contract.

Ann Keen: No accurate estimate is possible of the costs of drafting the new optional Personal Dental Services templates as the work has formed part of a wider programme, which cannot be disaggregated.

Dental Services

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 26 October 2009,  Official Report, column 101W, on dental services, if he will place in the Library a copy of the notes seen by officials of his Department in relation to the visits by the chief dental officer or his representatives to  (a) maxillofacial and  (b) dental hospitals which were subsequently used in the production of the report by the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board on oral and maxillofacial surgery;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 26 October 2009,  Official Report, column 101W, on dental services, on what date each unit was visited; for what reasons each unit was selected for a visit; who the representatives of the review body were at each visit; what the role of each such representative was during the visit; in what format the data were collected in each case; and in what format the data were passed to the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board secretariat.

Ann Keen: The dates of the visits were Royal Lancaster Infirmary 4 July 2007, Great Western hospital Swindon 25 July 2007, Royal Sussex Brighton 6 November 2007, Sunderland Royal hospital 20 November 2007, Royal London 21 December 2007, Southern General Glasgow 14 January 2008. The units were selected to enable the working group to meet with service providers in departments of differing composition and serving different population needs. The original programme of visits was extended at the suggestion of working group members and contributors, to ensure that the working group saw an appropriate balance of type and size of unit.
	All visits were made by selected members of the working group and secretariat whose names are given on page 3 of the report. There was no formal programme, the intention was to give the staff of the units the opportunity to present to the working group what they saw to be relevant to the review. The terms of the review did not extend to formal reporting on the visits and any notes taken are not in an appropriate format for placing in the Library. The overall findings, as summarised in the report, were that there should be no change to the current statutory requirement for those training in oral maxillofacial surgery to obtain primary qualifications in both medicine and dentistry but that there should be a separate review of the specialty of oral surgery. This review is now underway.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to implement the efficiency recommendations of the Operational Efficiency programme relating to his Department; and what training is available to  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department in respect of the delivery of value for money savings.

Mike O'Brien: Following publication of the Operational Efficiency Programme, I have been appointed as the Department's Value for Money Minister. The Department is working with Her Majesty's Treasury and other delivery partners to implement the recommendations of the Operational Efficiency Programme. There are a wide range of learning and development opportunities available for both Ministers and officials in the Department, many of which contribute towards the more effective delivery of value for money.

Doctors: Sports

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultant physician posts in sport and exercise medicine have been created in the NHS in the last three years.

Ann Keen: Sport and exercise medicine is a new medical specialty, established in 2006, when four posts were created and identified on the national health service work force census. It is not possible to say whether further posts have been created that have not been filled as this information is not collected centrally.
	The following table gives the number of sport and exercise consultants in the last three years.
	
		
			   Headcount 
			 2006 4 
			 2007 4 
			 2008 3 
		
	
	On average it can take between three and five years of full-time specialist training in a defined programme before a doctor can be appointed as a consultant in sport and exercise medicine (SEM). Doctors with sports medicine experience are not all going to be consultants in SEM.

Down's Syndrome

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the level of provision of healthcare services for those with Down's Syndrome; and what recent research his Department has evaluated on the incidence of Down's Syndrome.

Phil Hope: The Department does not single out any condition when raising awareness around learning disability, although the Department recognises the excellent awareness work carried out by third sector groups, which support people with Down's Syndrome and their families.
	Valuing People Now, published in January 2009 is a strategy that addresses people with learning disabilities having control over their lives and services, including what people do during the day, how they can be supported to access jobs, housing, better healthcare, and making sure that change happens.
	The Department funds the Congenital Anomaly Register for Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire (CAROBB). CAROBB is based at the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford, and collects information, including incidence data, on Down's Syndrome and other congenital anomalies. Further details, including CAROBB's first report, can be found at:
	www.npeu.ox.ac.uk/carobb

Haemophilia

Charles Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 14 October 2009,  Official Report, column 900W, on haemophilia, what assessment his Department has made of the pathogenic effect of multiple virus exposure on haemophiliacs; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: The Department has made no such assessment. However, the UK Haemophilia Centre Doctors Organisation ensures that all relevant tests and assessment for transfusion-transmitted infections are offered to haemophilia patients.

Health Services: Young Offender Institutions

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent  (a) in total and  (b) per inmate on healthcare for inmates of young offender institutions in 2008-09.

Phil Hope: In 2008-09 healthcare allocations (including targeted mental health in-reach funding) to establishments within the young offender institutions and young person estate totalled £29,108,000.
	Based on an operational capacity of 8,186 for the dedicated young offender institutions and young person's estate as at January 2009, this equates to per place cost of £4,685.

Heart Diseases: Barnet Hospital

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in developing treatments for cardiac conditions at Barnet Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The information requested is not held centrally. It is for local national health service organisations to plan, develop and improve services for local people.

Hospital Wards: Greater London

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made on the introduction of the productive ward concept at  (a) Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals,  (b) Northwick Park Hospital and  (c) the Royal Free Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The information requested is not held centrally. It is for local national health service organisations to plan, develop and improve services for local people.

Hospitals: Finance

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the percentage cost was of  (a) surgical and  (b) other treatments in (i) Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals, (ii) the Royal Free Hospital and (iii) Northwick Park Hospital as compared with the benchmark reference cost in each of the last three financial years; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The information requested is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following table, which shows the reference cost index (RCI) for these national health service providers for the last three available financial years.
	
		
			  RCIs including excess bed days 2005-06 to 2007-08 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 104 99 96 
			 Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 97 106 107 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 96 96 103 
			  Notes: 1. The RCI is the standard way of comparing reference costs between NHS organisations, and is a widely recognised measure of relative efficiency. It is not available for surgical and other treatments. 2. The RCI shows the average cost of an NHS organisation's aggregate activity, compared with the same activity delivered at the national average cost. By comparing with the national average for each type of treatment, the complexity of care provided is taken into account. An organisation with costs equal to the national average will have an RCI of 100, with higher cost organisations scoring above 100 and lower cost organisations scoring below 100. 3. 2005-06 reference costs were collected on a Healthcare Resource Group (HRG) 3.5 basis. 4. 2006-07 and 2007-08 reference costs were collected on a HRG4 basis. 5. The 2007-08 reference costs are the latest publicly available. 6. Reference costs are collected at trust level, and not hospital level. Northwick Park Hospital is part of North West London Hospitals NHS Trust. 7. A RCI of 125 means that the costs are 25 per cent. above the average while a RCI of 92 shows costs are 8 per cent. below the average. 8. The RCIs are market forces factor (MFF) adjusted. Providers based in some areas of the country, e.g. London and the South East, have higher costs for staff, land and buildings due to external market forces. The MFF is a method for taking this into account.  Source:  Department of Health Payment by Results team.

Hospitals: Finance

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the financial position of  (a) Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust,  (b) the Royal Free Hospital NHS Trust and (iii) Northwick Park Hospital NHS Trust (i) is and (ii) was at the end of the most recent financial year; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Data are collected on a trust level. Northwick Park Hospital is part of North West London Hospitals NHS Trust, and so figures for the latter are shown. The figures are in the following table:
	
		
			  £000 
			  Organisation  2008-09 Annual accounts surplus/(deficit)  2009-10 Quarter 1 Forecast outturn surplus/(deficit) 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospital NHS Trust 155 3,000 
			 North West London Hospital NHS Trust 117 (12,000) 
			 Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 3,791 471 
		
	
	The Department is working through the strategic health authority to ensure that all the organisations forecasting an operating deficit in 2009-10 are developing recovery plans to return to financial balance whilst still maintaining and improving services to patients.

Hospitals: Infectious Diseases

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the incidence of  (a) MRSA and  (b) clostridium difficile was at (i) Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, (ii) the Royal Free Hospital and (iii) Northwick Park Hospital in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: The information is not held in the format requested.
	Data on the incidence of methicillin-resistant  Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteraemia for 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09, and data on the incidence of  Clostridium difficile ( C. difficile) for 2007-08 and 2008-09 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust and North West London Hospitals NHS Trust are given as follows.
	
		
			  Cases of MRSA bloodstream infections reported under the mandatory surveillance scheme 
			  MRSA bacteraemia  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 62 54 30 
			 Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 75 31 18 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 51 33 29 
		
	
	
		
			  Cases of C. difficile bloodstream infections in people aged two years and over reported under the mandatory surveillance scheme (trust-apportioned number) 
			  C. difficile  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 173 62 
			 Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 179 52 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 211 155 
			  Notes: 1. Data are published by acute trust. Northwick Park Hospital is part of North West London Hospitals NHS Trust and information for this trust is included in the tables above. 2. Under the mandatory surveillance scheme, national health service acute trust laboratories report all cases of MRSA bloodstream infections, not just those from in-patients, and include infections acquired in hospital and elsewhere. 3. Under the mandatory surveillance scheme, NHS acute trusts report episodes of  C. difficile infection in people aged two years and over. The scheme was 'enhanced' in April 2007 to include patient-level data for all patients aged two years and over. We are therefore only able to provide data for the last two years. 4. The 'trust apportioned number' refers to infections which are presumed to be hospital acquired.  Source: Health Protection Agency, mandatory surveillance reporting schemes for MRSA and  C. difficile infections.

Hospitals: Reorganisation

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made on the reconfiguration of services between Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Steps have been taken to implement the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Clinical Strategy, part of which involves the reconfiguration of services at Barnet and Chase Farm hospitals. Most of the Independent Review Panel's recommendations have been implemented, with implementation of the rest already under way.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his assessment is of the effects of the abolition of waiting time targets on patients awaiting operations at Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust.

Mike O'Brien: As set out in the Operating Framework for the NHS in England 2009-10, the minimum expectation is that 90 per cent. of admitted patients will start consultant-led treatment within 18-weeks from the time they are referred by their general practitioner to start of their treatment unless it is clinically appropriate to do so or they choose to wait longer.
	Latest figures for August 2009 show that 94.6 per cent. of patients at Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust whose treatment involved admission to hospital started their treatment within 18-weeks, and 98.5 per cent. of patients at Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust whose treatment did not involve admission to hospital started their treatment within 18-weeks.

Hospitals: Waiting Lists

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the performance was as against waiting time targets for  (a) operations,  (b) accident and emergency,  (c) outpatient services and  (d) cancer services in (i) Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, (ii) the Royal Free Hospital and (iii) Northwick Park Hospital in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Data are collected at a trust level. The figures for waiting times are in the following tables (inpatient figures are a proxy for operations data):
	The performance waiting time target for inpatients is 100 per cent. within 26-weeks.
	
		
			  Inpatient median waiting times-August 2009-10 
			  Organisation  Median waiting time (weeks) 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 5.8 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust(1) 5.6 
			 Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 5.9 
			 (1 )The information requested is not collected by individual hospitals, it is collected by Trusts. Northwick Park hospital is part of North West London Hospitals NHS Trust, and so figures for the latter are shown.  Source: Monthly monitoring report (MMR)-provider based. August 2009-10 
		
	
	
		
			  Outpatient median waiting times-August 2009-10 
			  Organisation  Median waiting time (weeks) 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 4.5 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 2.6 
			 Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 2.9 
			  Source: Monthly monitoring report (MMR)-Provider based. August 2009-10 
		
	
	Data on accident and emergency (AE) waiting times are not available in the format requested. The Department has set a national standard that patients should not wait more than four hours in A and E departments from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge. A 98 per cent. minimum operating figure allows for the minority of patients who clinically need more than four hours in A and E.
	Latest data for quarter one 2009-10 show Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust achieved 98.9 per cent., Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 98.7 per cent., and North West London Hospitals NHS Trust, which includes Northwick Park hospital, 98.5 per cent. The performance reported is the result of activity corresponding to A and E departments at sites within the trust and additionally activity at mapped type three facilities operated by partner primary care trusts and the independent sector. Data are split by A and E department type but are not available at hospital site level.
	Published performance for the last full year and latest quarter for the three trusts has been:
	
		
			  Percentage of patients who spent less than four hours in A and E (all types) 
			   2008-09  Quarter 1 2009-10 
			 Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 98.5 98.9 
			 Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 98.1 98.7 
			 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 98.2 98.5 
		
	
	For cancer waiting times, the operational standard for the two week waits standard has been set at 93 per cent., allowing patients to exercise patient choice.
	The information is shown in a table which has been placed in the Library.

Housebound Patients

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of NHS patients in England who are housebound.

Ann Keen: This information is not collected centrally.

Maternity Services: Greater London

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) midwives,  (b) doctors below consultant grade and  (c) consultants were employed in maternity services at (i) Barnet Hospital, (ii) Chase Farm Hospital, (iii) the Royal Free Hospital and (iv) Northwick Park Hospital in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Workforce planning is a matter for local determination as local workforce planners are best placed to assess the health care needs of their local population. The Department continues to ensure the frameworks are in place to enable effective local workforce planning.
	The information requested is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the following table:
	
		
			  National health service hospital and community health services, medical staff in the obstetrics and gynaecology specialty and qualified maternity services nurses by level within specific NHS trusts as at 30 September each year 
			   2006  2007  2008 
			  Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust
			 All medical and dental staff 47 47 47 
			 
			 Consultant 10 12 15 
			 All other grades 37 35 32 
			 
			 All qualified maternity services nurses 310 322 331 
			 Nurse Consultant 1 1 1 
			 Modern Matron 5 4 7 
			 Manager 3 3 1 
			 Registered nurse-Children 24 18 18 
			 Registered midwife 243 252 266 
			 Other 1st level 30 40 35 
			 Other 2nd level 4 4 3 
			 
			  Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust
			 All medical and dental staff 40 35 39 
			 
			 Consultant 11 9 14 
			 All other grades 29 26 25 
			 
			 All qualified maternity services nurses 132 98 118 
			 Modern Matron 0 0 4 
			 Registered midwife 131 97 113 
			 Other 2nd level 1 1 1 
			 
			  North West London Hospitals NHS Trust
			 All medical and dental staff 46 46 44 
			 
			 Consultant 11 13 12 
			 All other grades 35 33 32 
			 
			 All qualified maternity services nurses 230 229 250 
			 Modern matron 0 0 5 
			 Registered nurse-children 40 41 117 
			 Registered midwife 116 120 117 
			 Other 1st level 68 61 80 
			 Other 2nd level 2 2 6 
			  Notes:  1. Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust includes the following hospitals: Barnet General hospital, Chase Farm hospital, Edgware Community hospital, Finchley Memorial hospital and Potters Bar hospital.  2. Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust includes the following hospitals: Queen Mary's hospital, Royal Free hospital, and the Royal Throat, Nose and Ear hospital.  3. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care is aware of the apparent drop in the number of midwives for this organisation in 2007. This is due to the inclusion of bank staff, which dropped to zero in 2007. The number of permanent midwives employed by the trust has remained steady in each year, at 92 in 2006, 97 in 2007 and 95 in 2008.  4. North West London Hospitals NHS Trust includes the following hospitals: Central Middlesex hospital, Northwick Park hospital and St. Mark's.  5. Workforce statistics are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data. Processing methods and procedures are continually being updated to improve data quality. Where this happens any impact on figures already published will be assessed but unless this is significant at national level they will not be changed. Where there is impact only at detailed or local level this will be footnoted in relevant analyses.  Source:  The NHS Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census, and The Information Centre for health and social care Medical and Dental Workforce Census.

Medical Treatments

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has commissioned into the merits of including societal costs and benefits within technology appraisals made by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: We have commissioned the University of York to undertake detailed research in this area. We expect the research findings to be published later in 2009-10.

Neurology: Plastic Surgery

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether  (a) the Royal Free Hospital and  (b) St. Mary's, Paddington offers (i) neurosurgery and (ii) plastic surgery services; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The information requested is not held centrally. Primary care trusts are responsible for using their resources to plan, commission and develop services to meet the health needs of their local community.

NHS: Equality

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what further measures his Department is considering to ensure racial equality and tolerance in the NHS.

Phil Hope: The NHS Constitution of 2009 has equality at its heart requiring national health service organisations to provide a comprehensive service, available to all irrespective of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief.
	The newly formed NHS Equality and Diversity Council, chaired by the NHS chief executive, will champion equality in the NHS and seek assurances on future progress.
	The Department will build on the work of a number of programmes with a focus on equality. Race for Health is sharing learning about race equality to the NHS, and Delivering Race Equality in Mental Health Care continues to generate system change. Pacesetters actively works with the NHS to innovate, identify and imbed good practice across all the equality strands for both patients and staff.
	In line with the NHS Constitution, the NHS aims to attract, retain and develop the best talent from all sections of the local communities they serve. The Department continues to work with NHS Employers and the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement to promote good workforce practices and improve the career prospects of under represented staff.

Nurses: Manpower

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many district nurses are employed by  (a) primary care trusts,  (b) acute trusts and  (c) GP practices;
	(2)  how many district nurses were working in  (a) general practices,  (b) hospitals and  (c) other health settings.

Ann Keen: District nurses are employed by national health service trusts and NHS primary care trusts. They are not employed by general practices, hospitals or in any other health care setting.
	The following table gives the number of district nurses employed in these two organisations as at the last work force census, 30 September 2008.
	
		
			   District nurse level 1  District nurse level 2 
			 Trusts 53 27 
			 Primary Care Trust 7,607 816 
			 Total 7,659 843

Nutrition: Children

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his Department's policy is in respect of the regulation of the levels of sugar and salt contained in foods and drinks marketed at children.

Gillian Merron: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is working with the United Kingdom food and drinks industry on a voluntary basis to reformulate foods to reduce the levels of salt and sugar present in a range of foods and drinks, including those aimed at children, focusing on those foods which contribute significantly to intakes of these nutrients.
	The FSA has set salt reduction targets for around 80 categories of food to be met by the food industry by 2010, and further stricter targets for 2012. In July 2009 the FSA issued a public consultation which includes draft recommendations to the food industry to reduce sugar levels and portion sizes of sugar-containing soft drinks.
	The Government have regulated to limit the amounts of salt, fat and sugars served to children over the school day through the statutory school food standards (The Education (Nutritional Standards and Requirements for School Food)(England) Regulations 2007, as amended). The statutory standards provide nutrient standards to be met for 14 nutrients within the food provision. To support this, the FSA developed Target Nutrient Specifications for manufactured products served as part of school lunches. These voluntary specifications cover manufactured products across 40 food categories and provide guidance for the level of salt, total fat, saturated fat, and sugars within each category that if procured would reduce these nutrients in the overall menu provision. These specifications are currently under review.

Operating Theatres: Greater London

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what percentage of time operating theatres were in use at  (a) Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals,  (b) the Royal Free Hospital,  (c) Northwick Park Hospital and  (d) Edgware Community Hospital in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The information requested is not held centrally.

Palliative Care: Finance

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been allocated to palliative care in  (a) England and  (b) the West Midlands in each of the last 10 years.

Phil Hope: We do not collect information on national health service expenditure on palliative, and/or end-of- life care services centrally.
	An additional £286 million revenue and capital funding is being made available over 2009-10 and 2010-11 to support the implementation of the End of Life Care Strategy. For 2010-11, this includes capital funding of £40 million for hospices. However, the majority of the funding is being allocated to primary care trusts (PCTs) through the 2009-10 and 2010-11 revenue allocations, so all PCTs will receive a portion of this funding.
	It is for PCTs to decide their priorities for investment locally, taking into account both local priorities and the NHS operating framework.

Patient Choice Schemes: Greater London

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the average time taken was to answer a call to the appointment booking system at  (a) the Royal Free Hospital and  (b) Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals in the latest period for which figures are available; what percentage of calls to each system were not answered in that period; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  for how many rings on average a person seeking to make an appointment via the telephone booking system at  (a) the Royal Free Hospital,  (b) Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust and  (c) Northwick Park Hospital waited before being connected in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The information requested is not held centrally.

Patient Choice Schemes: Hendon

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made in implementing the choose and book system for patients in Hendon constituency; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The choose and book system is in place across all general practitioners practices in England including those in the Hendon constituency which falls under Barnet Primary Care Trust (PCT). The Department continues to provide national support and guidance to ensure the choose and book system is utilised effectively in all PCTs.

Patients: Attendance

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to reduce levels of non-attendance at appointments at  (a) Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals  (b) Northwick Park Hospital and  (c) the Royal Free Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: This is a matter for the local trusts. In 2008 the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement created a tool to be used by hospitals to examine the causes for patient non-attendance and provides guidance on what hospitals can do to reduce the level of 'did not attends'.

Patients: Attendance

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of patients did not attend for  (a) operations and  (b) out-patient appointments at (i) Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals, (ii) the Royal Free Hospital and (iii) Northwick Park Hospital in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Information on the number of patients failing to attend operations is not held centrally. Information on the number of patients who failed to attend out-patient appointments is collected by hospital trust and included in the following tables.
	
		
			  Count and percentage of appointments( 1)  where the patient did not attend( 2)  in 2007-08 and 2008-09( 3)  (provisional full year) 
			  Provider code  Hospital provider  Total appointments( 1)  Total did not attend( 2)  Percentage 
			  2008-09( 3)  provisional data (full year) 
			 RVL Barnet and Chase Farm NHS Trust 621,356 54,962 8.8 
			 RV8 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 401,267 53,565 13.3 
			 RAL Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 782,314 83,048 10.6 
			  
			  2007-08 final data 
			 RVL Barnet and Chase Farm NHS Trust(4) 250,198 31,187 12.5 
			 RV8 North West London Hospitals NHS Trust 371,375 49,873 13.4 
			 RAL Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 698,289 73,249 10.5 
			 (1) Appointment count: This provides a count of the number of planned/booked appointments for out-patients. The database is constructed of one row per appointment that was made, whether it was attended or not. (2) Attendance type: Attendance type identifies if the patient attended an appointment, and if it was first or subsequent attendance, or if the appointment was cancelled or the patient did not attend. This field is complete for over 99 per cent. of appointments. In this case, attendance types included in the count of total not attending, were: Four-did not attend first appointment Five-did not attend subsequent appointment Six-did not attend, first/subsequent/tele unknown 24-did not attend first tele consultation (2008-09 only) 25-Did not attend subsequent tele consultation (2008-09 only) (3) Provisional data: The data are provisional and may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. Counts produced from provisional data are likely to be lower than those generated for the same period in the final dataset. This shortfall will be most pronounced in the final month of the latest period, i.e. November from the (month nine) April to November extract. It is also probable that clinical data are not complete, which may in particular affect the last two months of any given period. There may also be a variety of errors due to coding inconsistencies that have not yet been investigated and corrected. (4) Data Quality note: In 2007-08 there was a shortfall in the data submitted by Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust between August and December 2007. For this reason, the total appointment count and total did not attend count would have actually been significantly larger in this year and so caution must be taken before drawing any conclusions on this trust.  Note: Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector.  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES); Out-patients, The NHS Information Centre for health and social care

Patients: Greater London

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients from the postcode  (a) NW4,  (b) NW7,  (c) NW9 and  (d) HA8 were treated at (i) Barnet Hospital, (ii) Chase Farm Hospital, (iii) the Royal Free Hospital and (iv) Northwick Park Hospital for (A) inpatient and (B) outpatient appointments in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The information requested is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the tables as follows:
	
		
			  A count of in-patient finished admission episodes of patients from post codes HA8, NW4, NW7 and NW9 to Barnet and Chase Farm NHS trust, North West London NHS trust and Royal Free Hampstead NHS trust between 2008-09 and 2006-07 
			  Postcode  Code  Provider  2008-09  2007-08  2006-07 
			 Total   32,023 24,814 30,045 
			   
			 HA8 RVL Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 7,031 3,491 6,117 
			  RV8 North West London NHS Trust 3,201 3,102 3,412 
			  RAL Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 2,176 2,265 1,970 
			   
			 NW4 RVL Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 1,114 561 1,106 
			  RV8 North West London NHS Trust 207 217 271 
			  RAL Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 3,253 3,461 3,416 
			   
			 NW7 RVL Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 3,487 1,618 2,962 
			  RV8 North West London NHS trust 151 170 219 
			  RAL Royal Free Hampstead NHS trust 1,064 1,229 1,091 
			   
			 NW9 RVL Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 3,154 1,484 2,557 
			  RV8 North West London NHS Trust 5,162 5,160 5,089 
			  RAL Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 2,023 2,056 1,835 
			  Notes:  1. We are unable to provide information for specific hospitals. We have provided data for the care providers to which the hospitals belong. Barnet Hospital and Chase Farm hospital are part of the Barnet and Chase Farm hospitals NHS trust, the Royal Free hospital is part of the Royal Free Hampstead hospitals trust, and Northwick Park hospital belongs to the North West London hospitals NHS trust.  2. The data provided are for activity in English national health service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector.  3. In-patients are defined as patients who are admitted to hospital and occupy a bed, including both admissions where an overnight stay is planned and day cases.  4. A finished admission episode is the first period of in-patient care under one consultant within one health care provider. Finished admission episodes are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. It should be noted that admissions do not represent the number of in-patients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.  5. HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. The quality and coverage of the data have improved over time. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and may no longer be accounted for in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  6. HES are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England. Data are also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.   Source:  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care. 
		
	
	
		
			  A count of out-patient attended appointments of patients from post codes HA8, NW4, NW7 and NW9 to Barnet and Chase Farm NHS trust, North West London NHS trust and Royal Free Hampstead NHS trust between 2008-09 and 2006-07 
			  Postcode  Code  Provider  2008-09  ( Provisional )  2007-08  2006-07 
			 Total   157,350 117,255 131,108 
			   
			 HA8 RVL Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 30,045 14,788 24,601 
			  RV8 North West London NHS Trust 10,696 10,555 11,119 
			  RAL Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 19,332 17,280 14,649 
			   
			 NW4 RVL Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 5,087 2,240 3,992 
			  RV8 North West London NHS Trust 824 875 815 
			  RAL Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 20,194 19,328 17,347 
			   
			 NW7 RVL Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 13,506 6,189 10,656 
			  RV8 North West London NHS Trust 674 793 770 
			  RAL Royal Free Hampstead NHS trust 9,447 8,793 7,374 
			 NW9 RVL Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust 14,164 6,702 10,995 
			  RV8 North West London NHS Trust 17,871 16,334 17,162 
			  RAL Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust 15,510 13,378 11,628 
			  Notes:  1. We are unable to provide information for specific hospitals. We have provided data for the care providers to which the hospitals belong. Barnet Hospital and Chase Farm hospital are part of the Barnet and Chase Farm hospitals NHS trust, the Royal Free hospital is part of the Royal Free Hampstead hospitals trust, and Northwick Park hospital belongs to the North West London hospitals NHS trust.  2. The data provided are for activity in English NHS hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector.  3. Out-patient HES data were collected for the first time in 2003-04. It is not mandatory to code procedures on outpatient records and therefore only around 2 per cent. of records have completed clinical codes. We have no reliable existing data source to validate these data against, as Department of Health aggregate returns have never collected clinical codes; it is not clear how representative the figures are. The data represent a sample of out-patient attendances. Statistical estimates (such as median and 90th percentile waiting times for main operations) must be regarded as potentially unreliable until it is possible to assess the quality of local coding.  4. This provides a count of the number of planned/booked appointments for out-patients. The database is constructed of one row per appointment that was made, whether it was attended or not however only out-patients that did attend have been included in the above table.  5. The data are provisional and may be incomplete or contain errors for which no adjustments have yet been made. Counts produced from provisional data are likely to be lower than those generated for the same period in the final dataset. This shortfall will be most pronounced in the final month of the latest period, i.e. November from the (month 9) April to November extract. It is also probable that clinical data are not complete, which may in particular affect the last two months of any given period. There may also be a variety of errors due to coding inconsistencies that have not yet been investigated and corrected.  6. HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. The quality and coverage of the data have improved over time. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in out-patient settings and may no longer be accounted for in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  7. HES are compiled from data sent by over 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts in England. Data are also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.   Source:  Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the NHS has for future expenditure on the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore.

Mike O'Brien: The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust continues to work on their outline business case for the redevelopment of the Stanmore site.

School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will extend his Department's free fruit and vegetable scheme to junior school children; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: There are no plans to extend the School Fruit and Vegetable Scheme to junior school children.

Swine Flu

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) guidance and  (b) advice his Department plans to issue to (i) GPs and (ii) pregnant women to assist each in making an informed decision on swine influenza vaccination in individual cases; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: On 2 November, the Department issued a comprehensive briefing to all general practitioners about the swine flu vaccination programme and pregnancy, which covers the evidence, risks and benefits of the vaccine for pregnant women. The document has been placed in the Library and is available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/Dearcolleagueletters/DH_107824
	A patient focused leaflet is also planned to be issued shortly, which aims to assist pregnant women in making an informed decision about vaccination.

Swine Flu

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors he took into account when assessing the risks to pregnant women arising from  (a) administration of the swine influenza vaccination and  (b) contracting swine influenza; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: Two vaccines have been licensed by the European Medicines Authority for use in pregnant women in the United Kingdom. Licensing of vaccines, including influenza vaccines, is held to a very high standard of safety and the vaccines would not be licensed if they were considered unsafe.
	In licensing the current swine flu vaccines for use in pregnancy, the European regulators gave careful consideration to the severe burden of illness caused by swine flu in pregnant women. Epidemiological evidence from North America, Australia and Europe shows that pregnant women are at increased risk of severe disease and influenza-related hospital admission. Figures from the United States have shown that pregnant women who have swine flu are four to five times more likely to be hospitalised than the general population.
	The Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation reviewed the two licenced vaccines and recommended that pregnant women should be given Pandemrix. This vaccine appears to give adequate levels of antibodies after a single dose thereby conferring protection more rapidly than would be afforded by Celvapan, which requires a two-dose schedule given three weeks apart.

Urology: Greater London

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the NHS has to improve urology services at Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: Improving specific services is a matter for local determination. It is the role of primary care trusts to ensure they commission services to meet the needs of their local population.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

2010 World Cup

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to provide travel advice to British nationals ahead of the 2010 World Cup finals; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is working with a wide range of organisations to provide travel advice for British fans through our Know Before You Go campaign and its associated partners, the Travel Advice service, and our High Commission in South Africa. Our official travel safety campaign will be launched just before the 4 December World Cup draw. The campaign will regularly reinforce important safety messages in the run up to the World Cup using a variety of communication methods. We already provide advice and tips through the website:
	www.fco.gov.uk/worldcup
	which will be regularly updated.

Afghanistan: Reconstruction

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance the Government are giving to the Government of Afghanistan on negotiating trans-national contracts for the supply of raw materials.

Ivan Lewis: The UK does not provide specific assistance to the Government of Afghanistan on the negotiation of trans-national contracts for the supply of raw materials. The World Bank is the main provider of such assistance in Kabul. The UK does however continue to work with the Government of Afghanistan on wider cross-border trade issues, including by supporting fora such as the Regional Economic Co-operation Conference.

Afghanistan: UK Trade and Investment

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the establishment of a UK Trade and Investment representation in Afghanistan.

Ivan Lewis: Building up the basics of the licit private sector economy is vital before we can expect substantial UK investment in Afghanistan, therefore there have not yet been substantive discussions at ministerial level on this issue. At present, UK Trade and Investment has no presence in Afghanistan and does not proactively support UK companies in this market. However, UK officials liaise periodically with our embassy in Kabul and lobbying on behalf of British companies may be carried out on a case-by-case basis by the embassy.
	The UK's economic development efforts in Afghanistan are focused on stimulating economic growth and job creation through private sector and agricultural development, as well as building the capacity of the economic Ministries. The UK (through the Department for International Development) contributes £30 million to Harakat, an investment facility working to encourage private sector investment. The Department for International Development is also investing in the Supporting Employment and Enterprise Development programme, which will create a fund to help Afghan businesses develop innovative ideas, fund skills development, as well as supporting the Microfinance Investment and Support Facility for Afghanistan (MISFA) which has extended micro-credit and savings facilities to over 440,000 Afghans.

Brazil

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aims and objectives he has set for UK foreign policy in respect of Brazil.

Chris Bryant: Brazil is an emerging global power: economically and politically. The Government's overriding objective is to be Brazil's partner of choice as Brazil takes its proper place as a global player in foreign, security and development spheres.
	In particular, it is the Government's aim to assist Brazil in using its upcoming elected term on the UN Security Council from January 2010 in a way which will bolster its claim to be a permanent member of the Security Council as part of a reformed UN. The UK also seeks a greater role for Brazil in the weapons of mass destruction and disarmament agenda. As a long-standing declared non-nuclear power, Brazil is important in persuading Iran to co-operate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The UK would also like Brazil to sign the Additional Protocol of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, to make full inspections of nuclear facilities the international norm.
	The UK continues to work closely with Brazil in the security sphere. In particular, the UK is keen to help Brazil capitalise on its experience in leading the UN Mission to Haiti (MINUSTAH) so as to increase its capacity to play a greater role in security operations in conflict zones elsewhere, including Africa.
	The UK has also been working closely with Brazil to help make the case for reform of the international architecture to meet modern demands: not least the World Bank, G20, the UN and International Monetary Fund. It is our hope that Brazil will use its influence within others, such as the G77 and Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), to persuade other countries of the case.
	On climate change, the UK works closely with Brazil on climate change-as a country with a relatively clean energy matrix and with a strong commitment to addressing deforestation. The UK sees Brazil as a key partner in helping to achieve a deal in Copenhagen.
	The UK also seeks a more active role for Brazil in development, particularly in Africa, with which Brazil has traditional links and where Brazil's techniques on social protection are helpful.
	The UK is looking to develop a stronger bilateral trade and commercial relationship with Brazil, including increased trade and investment which maximises opportunities for both countries. On multilateral trade, Brazil and the UK share the view that a Doha Development deal should be both market opening and pro-development. Both countries have a shared vision about the role that trade can and should play in enhancing opportunities for economic development.
	Rio de Janeiro has recently been successful in its bid to host the 2016 Olympics. As London will be the host for the 2012 Olympics, this is an excellent opportunity for Brazil and UK to work closely together to maximise all the opportunities across a wide range of policy areas and a broad spectrum of mutual interests.

British Overseas Territories: Carbon Emissions

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether records are kept of the levels of carbon dioxide emissions produced by the UK Overseas Territories in the Caribbean.

Chris Bryant: Responsibility for environmental issues, including for maintaining records of carbon dioxide emissions, has been devolved to the overseas territories.

British Overseas Territories: Databases

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the age is of the youngest person whose personal records are held on the Overseas Territories Regional Crime Intelligence System.

Chris Bryant: The youngest person whose personal record (name, date of birth, sex, home address and passport number) is held on the Overseas Territories Regional Criminal Intelligence System is aged nine.
	The data on the system are highly protected and are not accessible by local IT network systems. All data stored on the system are protected under the UK Data Protection Act, and in accordance with the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights.

British Overseas Territories: Gross Domestic Product

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the gross domestic product per capita was for the UK Overseas Territories in the Caribbean in each of the last five years.

Chris Bryant: The accuracy of gross domestic product (GDP) per head calculations in the Overseas Territories varies, and data are not always available for every year. It is not unusual for estimates to be revised after they have been published. This is compounded by the variable populations of the Overseas Territories-a small change in population can have a bigger effect on GDP per capita.
	GDP statistics are available on the following territory websites:
	Cayman Islands: http://www.gov.ky/
	Anguilla: http://gov.ai/
	Turks and Caicos Islands: http://www.turksandcaicos.tc/government/
	Bermuda: http://www.gov.bm/
	The British Virgin Islands (BVI) and Montserrat have not published these statistics on their Government websites. Their best estimates of GDP per capita for the five years until 2008 are below in current prices:
	
		
			   BVI (US$)  Montserrat (EC$) 
			 2004 31,460 20,203 
			 2005 35,820 20,625 
			 2006 37,970 22,803 
			 2007 40,050 21,725 
			 2008 38,820 22,564

British Overseas Territories: Internet

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of households in  (a) Montserrat,  (b) the British Virgin Islands,  (c) the Turks and Caicos Islands,  (d) the Cayman Islands,  (e) Bermuda and  (f) Anguilla have access to high-speed broadband internet.

Chris Bryant: All of the Caribbean overseas territories and Bermuda offer broadband internet access to the population but its speed and use varies between territories.

British Overseas Territories: Renewable Energy

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether solar photovoltaic systems have been installed on government buildings in the UK Overseas Territories in the Caribbean; and whether any other green technologies have been trialled.

Chris Bryant: The installation of solar photovoltaic systems in the Caribbean Overseas Territories is a matter for Overseas Territory governments.

British Overseas Territories: Telecommunications

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures are in place to improve the telecommunications infrastructure in the UK Overseas Territories in the Caribbean.

Chris Bryant: Such measures are the internal responsibility of each overseas territory government, and differ widely in each case.

British Overseas Territories: Telecommunications

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures are in place to improve the telecommunications infrastructure in the UK Overseas Territories in the South Atlantic.

Chris Bryant: The Governments of the South Atlantic British Overseas Territories are committed to working to improve their telecommunications services to meet the needs of their communities' social and economic needs. For example:
	on the Falkland Islands, a system is being installed to offer internet connectivity to the dispersed population. Also, there are plans to introduce revised legislation, and more effective regulation;
	on St. Helena, a consultant has been engaged to advise on negotiating and granting a new telecommunications licence in 2012. The St. Helena Government's aim is that the new licence will provide for improvements to the existing telecommunications infrastructure;
	and on Tristan da Cunha, possible suppliers are being engaged on the feasibility of a new broadband wifi system to provide internet and telephony.

Colombia

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 26 October 2009,  Official Report, column 67W, on Colombia: trade unions, what the cost was of his visit to Bogota.

Chris Bryant: The Cabinet Office publishes an annual list of overseas travel by Ministers costing in excess of £500. The list provides details of the date, destination and purpose of all such visits and the cost of Ministers' travel and accommodation where appropriate. Copies of the list are placed in the Libraries of both Houses. A list of overseas visits undertaken by Ministers in the period 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010 will be published in due course. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.

Colombia: Armed Forces

Andrew Love: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which official in his Department is responsible for monitoring the compliance with human rights standards of those Colombian security forces which have received training or other assistance from the UK.

Chris Bryant: The monitoring of the human rights or other performance of individual Colombian military personnel is the responsibility of the Colombian armed forces.
	Our embassy in Bogota keeps a record of Colombian security force personnel who receive UK training, whether in counter-narcotics, human rights or humanitarian demining, in case information emerged to suggest that they subsequently become involved in human rights abuses. No such information has emerged to date.
	Disclosing the details of the record held by our Embassy could endanger the lives of those involved.

Colombia: Drugs

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent on counter-narcotics assistance in Colombia; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: We do not disclose the value of our counter-narcotics assistance to Colombia. To do so would put British and Colombian lives at risk. This decision has been upheld by the parliamentary ombudsman.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Armed Conflict

Andrew Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to seek to encourage MONUC and the Government of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to ensure that Operation Kimia 2 does not cause harm to civilians in eastern DRC; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: The UK continues to support civilian protection as the UN mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (MONUC)'s highest priority under UN Security Council Resolution 1856, and will do so for its new mandate. MONUC forces have performed well in very difficult circumstances. The UK is working closely with the UN to address the security situation in the areas most vulnerable to violence.
	MONUC's response in this area includes deployment of joint civilian-military protection teams, where civilian staff specialising in different areas (human rights, child protection, civilian affairs etc) go out into the field with MONUC military and undertake a range of liaison activities with the local population to better understand their protection needs. MONUC has developed a conditionality policy as a means of withdrawing support from Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) units implicated in serious human rights abuses.
	We also continue to urge DRC government of the need to respect International Humanitarian Law and not force Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to return. IDPs and refugee returns is a key strand of the DRC government Stabilisation and Reconstruction Plan and the Humanitarian Action Plan. We will keep working with the DRC government to implement these plans in co-ordination with humanitarian partners.

Departmental Rail Travel

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on first-class rail travel by its officials in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office spend on first-class travel within the UK was as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  £ 
			 2007-08(1) 10,537.25 
			 2008-09 49,700.00 
			 2009-10(2) 13,225.40 
			 (1) January to March. (2 )Up to September. 
		
	
	The Hogg Robinson Group took over the travel contract in December 2007 and figures prior to this date are not available.
	UK Staff on duty travel are only entitled to first-class rail travel when the journey time is over two hours, all other journeys must be made in standard class.

International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to seek to ensure progress in proceedings relating to Radovan Karadzic in the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

Chris Bryant: The Government welcomed the arrest last year of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic. The UK has provided co-operation to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia to ensure that his trial was able to commence on 26 October. The handling of proceedings against Dr Karadzic is an independent judicial matter for the court.

Iran: EU Action

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on diplomatic action against Iran following the sentencing of Hossein Rassam.

Chris Bryant: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary briefed EU partners in confidence at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 26 October 2009 after receiving initial news of the sentence handed down to Hossein Rassam.
	Once the sentence was confirmed, the EU presidency issued a statement on 29 October 2009 condemning the sentence and making clear that action against one EU member state was an action against all.
	EU partners also took co-ordinated action in summoning Iranian ambassadors in capitals to underline their concerns about this case, and the European Council expressed its continuing concern about the situation of staff members of European Union Missions and European citizens in Iran who have recently been on trial, and called for their prompt and unconditional release.

Israel: Nuclear Weapons

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his oral answers to the hon. Members for Islington North and Lewes of 20 October 2009,  Official Report, columns 757 and 773, what steps he is taking to persuade Israel to  (a) abandon its nuclear capability and  (b) sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

Ivan Lewis: We are clear in our call, both privately and publicly, on Israel to accede to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty as a non-nuclear weapon state. We also call on Israel to ratify the comprehensive test ban treaty.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Permanent Under Secretary, Peter Ricketts, emphasised our commitment to a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction in meetings during his visit to Israel earlier this month.
	We continue to believe that a negotiated solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, delivering a viable Palestinian State alongside a secure Israel, is a critical part of achieving peace and security in the region.

Middle East: Overseas Aid

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment is of the effectiveness of funding provided by  (a) the Government and  (b) the EU which has contributed to the Palestinian economy in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Foster: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK contributes to the Palestinian economy through budget support to the Palestinian Authority (PA) and support to the development of the private sector.
	Since March 2008, the UK Government have provided £53.5 million in budget support to the PA through the World Bank Trust Fund. The European Commission also provided £281 million to the Palestinian Authority (PA) through its PEGASE mechanism in 2008. The funding provided through the World Bank Trust Fund and PEGASE has enabled the PA to stabilise its finances and catch up with arrears of salary payments. This has helped stabilise the economy, reduce household debt and improve investor confidence.
	In May 2008 we set up the £3.3 million Facility for New Market Development to enable Palestinian businesses to develop new products and research new markets for their goods. This project has helped over 180 companies in both the West Bank and Gaza. The UK has also funded two conferences to encourage investment in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. These have resulted in the construction of a £25 million hotel development in Ramallah, the establishment of the Palestine British Business Council, and training courses for Palestinian IT professionals in Ramallah by Google.

Middle East: Peace Negotiations

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to contribute to peace and stability in the Middle East; and what recent discussions he has had with the  (a) Palestinian and  (b) Israeli authorities on that matter.

Chris Bryant: holding answer 2 November 2009
	From my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister down, we work closely with the Israeli and Palestinian authorities, and our international partners, to promote efforts towards a comprehensive peace in the Middle East. Most recently, the Prime Minister spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu on 15 October, and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke to Defence Minister Barak on 13 October and to Prime Minister Fayyad on 28 October.

Middle East: Peace Negotiations

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support the UK is giving to the Palestinian Authority to improve its policing and security systems; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The UK provides considerable support for security sector reform in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
	Since March 2008, we have been funding a £1.16 million project to provide the Palestinian civilian police with information technology and communications equipment, and to help fund their criminal investigation training.
	We also support the work of the US Security Co-ordinator General Dayton. This includes advice to the Palestinian Ministry of the Interior, and support to a Senior Leadership Course which trains future leaders of the Palestinian security sector.
	A strong and reformed Palestinian security sector is central to the peace process and the establishment of a successful Palestinian state. The reforms undertaken by the Palestinian Authority have helped improve Israeli and US confidence in the capability of the Palestinian security forces, and delivered economic benefits for ordinary Palestinians. We will continue to work with the Palestinian Authority to build on these successes and further improve the security situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Middle East: USA

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of relations between the United States of America and Middle Eastern countries.

Ivan Lewis: Relations between the US and countries in the middle east are primarily a matter for those concerned.
	We welcome President Obama's speech in Cairo on 4 June and his determination to make progress towards peace in the region. This offers a real opportunity and we continue to work with the US and partners across the region to support progress towards this goal.

Northern Cyprus

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will request the Turkish Cypriot authorities to seek a reversal of the decision of their Higher Broadcasting Council to forbid the use of Turkish Cypriot dialect on television and radio in northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Bryant: The Government are not aware of any decision to forbid the use of the Turkish Cypriot dialect in the north of Cyprus.

Overseas Aid: Domestic Violence

Margaret Moran: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding his Department has allocated to projects overseas to tackle domestic violence and sexual abuse in each year since 2001.

Chris Bryant: The Department for International Development leads on this issue globally and supports a range of initiatives aimed at tackling violence against women, including domestic violence, through its development assistance programmes. This has included work in Ghana and Sierra Leone supporting the implementation of new legislation on domestic violence; and in Nepal, providing technical assistance to the Prime Minister's Office on the national campaign to end gender-based violence.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has funded one related project on domestic violence overseas in the recent past. This was a three-year community policing project being run in Russia between 2006 and 2009 (at a cost of approximately £300,000) by the Global Opportunities Fund for Human Rights. The aim of the project was to train police officers on prevention of community and domestic violence, working with justices of the peace, non-governmental organisations and relevant municipal organisations, to reduce domestic violence.
	The FCO's Human Rights and Democracy Strategic Programme Fund supports projects on equality, including tackling the structural and institutional roots of gender discrimination through effective implementation of international law, but it does not have dedicated funds for tackling domestic violence and sexual abuse overseas.

South America: Conflict Prevention

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 13 July,  Official Report, columns 108-9W, on Colombia: land mines, for what reason the Conflict Prevention Pool no longer funds projects in South America.

Chris Bryant: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's written ministerial statement of 25 March 2009 announced the Government's arrangement for conflict funding in 2009-10. We have increased the resources available for conflict activity in 2009-10; a significant symbol of the importance we attach to these issues. However, we face competing demands and we cannot fund all activity to the same level as in previous years. The funding for Latin America was withdrawn as the limited funds available were allocated to regions where the risk and impact of conflict is greatest, including south Asia and the middle east. The UK still undertakes significant work in Latin America on issues such as human rights and democracy, climate change and counter-narcotics. We continue to work alongside international partners, including the UN, on conflict issues.

Tibet: Human Rights

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps his Department is taking to  (a) (i) monitor and (ii) witness the trial of the Tibetan film-maker Dhondup Wangchen who has been in detention in Tibet since March 2008 and  (b) establish his medical condition.

Chris Bryant: We are aware of Dhondup Wangchen's case. We are concerned about his well-being following his continued detention pending a trial, and about the conditions of his detention. His case was raised at the EU/China Human Rights Dialogue in Prague on 14 May 2009, where his name was included on an individual case list. On this the EU side asked for clarification as to the whereabouts and the grounds of his detention, as well as for his release. Most recently, my hon. Friend, Ivan Lewis, Minister of State for the Middle East and the Far East, also raised this case during his trip to Lhasa and Beijing in September, reiterating our concerns for his safety and welfare. The Chinese response was to inform us of the nature of his arrest, that the relevant Chinese authority raised charges against him and that his case was under judicial proceedings. We will continue to raise this case at every appropriate opportunity.

Tibet: Human Rights

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek urgent clarification from the Chinese authorities on the whereabouts of Tibetans, Tenzin Phuntsok, Kangtsuk and Penkyi from Sakya county who each received a death sentence with a two-year reprieve in April 2009.

Chris Bryant: We have called on China to review urgently the cases of those who remain under sentence of death for their alleged involvement in last year's unrest. The fact that independent observers were not allowed at these trials, and that restrictions remain on access to Tibetan areas, means that we have been unable to verify that the human rights of the defendants were respected, or that the trials were free from political interference. This, together with reports we have received from non-governmental organisations, gives us cause for real concern. We have also raised our concerns through the European Union.
	In the statement that I released on 23 October 2009 condemning the recent executions in Lhasa of two Tibetans (Mr. Lobsang Gyaltsen and Mr. Loyak), I made clear that while we respect China's right to bring those responsible for the violence in Tibet last year to justice, the UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances, and we have consistently raised our concerns about lack of due process.
	I expressed my deep concern about all the death penalty cases during my visit to Tibet in September and urged the authorities not to carry out the death sentence. We will continue to monitor reports on these and other individual cases, and will request further information about a selection of cases of concern at the next round of the UK/China Human Rights Dialogue.

United Nations Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Aylesbury of 21 October 2009,  Official Report, columns 1516-17, on the UN Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, if he will delay the planned timetable for ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material until the relevant Select Committees of the House have had an opportunity to scrutinise the implications for United Kingdom nuclear policy of the amendments contained in Cm 7685.

Chris Bryant: The Department for Energy and Climate Change, which holds the Government policy lead on the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, has confirmed that it has not received a request from a Select Committee to extend the 21 sitting day period, therefore the time period for scrutiny will end on 4 November 2009.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Academies Enterprise Trust: Finance

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 9 September 2009,  Official Report, columns 1930-31W, on the Academies Enterprise Trust, what funding was provided by each academy to the Academies Enterprise Trust in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10.

Vernon Coaker: We do not hold information on any funding provided by academies to the Academies Enterprise Trust.

Academies: Sponsorship

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make it a requirement for organisations in charge of academies to publish annual financial accounts, including details of salaries; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: All academy trusts (which includes charitable trusts running more than one academy) are required to publish annual accounts in accordance with the Companies Act 2006. The Charity Commission has published a Statement of Recommended Practice which clarifies how charities should prepare their accounts in order to reflect these legal requirements. The Statement of Recommended Practice states that charities which are subject to a statutory audit (this includes academy trusts) should include a note in their accounts disclosing the number of employees whose emoluments were £60,000 or above, presented in £10,000 bandings. The Department expects academy trusts to comply with the Statement of Recommended Practice.

Anti-Semitism

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many meetings of the cross-departmental working group on tackling anti-Semitism his Department's official responsible for pupil safety and school responsibility has attended.

Diana Johnson: There have been 10 meetings of the Inter-Departmental Working Group to Tackle Anti-Semitism since June 2007, of which seven have been attended by officials from the Department for Children, Schools and Families. Officials advising on security in maintained schools have not attended but have briefed the secretariat directly or through their colleagues. A security official is expected to attend the next meeting. During the last two years DCSF Ministers have directly discussed concerns about security in Jewish schools on several occasions with, among others, representatives of the Community Security Trust and the Board of Deputies of British Jews. Relevant decisions have taken such concerns into account.

Children in Care

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children of prisoners were taken into care by social services in  (a) 2007,  (b) 2008 and  (c) 2009.

Vernon Coaker: The requested information is not held centrally by the Department.

Children: Databases

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families by what date local authorities are expected to have completed shielding arrangements in respect of ContactPoint.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 2 November 2009
	All local authorities confirmed completion of the initial shielding phase of ContactPoint in May. However, the shielding of individual records is an ongoing activity. Additionally, local authorities will carry out regular (six-monthly) reviews of shielded records to ensure that the retention of the shield is still appropriate.

Children: Day Care

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much he expects his Department to spend on the Graduate Leader Fund in  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The total amount for the Graduate Leader Fund, available over three years between 2008 and 2011, is £305 million. This is made up of £232 million for settings, routed via local authorities, and £73 million for the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC) to deliver Early Years Professional Status training and accreditation. Of the £305 million, the Department allocated £99 million in 2009-10 and currently plans to allocate £129 million in 2010-11. These allocations are included within the wider main revenue block of the Sure Start Early Years and Childcare Grant, which is ring-fenced to be spent on supporting the delivery of the Government's Ten Year Strategy for Childcare and the local authority duties set out in the Childcare Act 2006.
	Local authorities have the discretion to decide how much is spent on each area of activity, such as the Graduate Leader Fund, in line with local priorities, providing it contributes to the early years experience of children in their area.

Children's Centres: Hertfordshire

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 12 October 2009,  Official Report, column 204W, on children's centres: Hertfordshire, how many proposed centres planned to open by that date were not operational on that date.

Dawn Primarolo: At the end of September 2009 Hertfordshire local authority had a total of 55 designated Sure Start Children's Centres, with a further 27 planned to be designated by March 2010, in order to provide universal coverage of children's centre services for children under five and their families. Of the 55 designated centres, seven are located in Hemel Hempstead and six in Dacorum. All centres due for designation were designated and have been in operation since September 2009 as planned.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what steps his Department is taking to implement the efficiency recommendations of the Operational Efficiency programme relating to his Department;
	(2)  which Minister in his Department has been assigned responsibility for overseeing the delivery of value for money in his Department; whether his Department has established a public sector reform team to implement service reforms; and what training is available to  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials of his Department in respect of the delivery of value for money savings;
	(3)  what steps his Department is taking to implement the efficiency recommendations of the Operational Efficiency programme relating to his Department; and what training is available to  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department.

Diana Johnson: Responsibility for the Department's value for money (VfM) remit has been assigned to me. This will include oversight of our CSR07 Efficiency programme and the additional Operational Efficiency programme (OEP) efficiencies agreed at Budget 2009. The Department has not provided specific training, but she receives regular briefing on progress.
	Both of these programmes are managed by a value for money team who co-ordinate activity across the Department, throughout its NDPBs and within the sectors in which they operate.
	Progress towards targets set for the CSR07 Efficiency programme and the additional Operational Efficiency programme (OEP) will be stated in the 2009 autumn performance report in December 2009.

Departmental Telephone Services

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will consider the merits of securing accreditation of his Department's helplines to the Helplines Association's quality standard; and if he will make a statement.

Diana Johnson: All of the DCSF telephone helplines on which we hold information centrally were contracted through COI (Central Office of Information).
	All DCSF helplines run through the COI Framework have one or more of the following accreditations: Contact Centre Association (CCA), COPC (Customer Operations Performance Centre) and/or Customer Excellence. It is also mandatory for them to either have or be planning to attain (in the next 12 months) the standards ISO9001 (quality management) and the ISO27001 (information security).
	There are no plans to use the Helpline Association's quality standard.

Digital Communications Unit

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much has been spent by his Department on its Digital Communications Unit in each year since its inception; how many people are employed by the unit; and what the unit's functions are.

Diana Johnson: The Digital Communications Unit was created in 2008. The programme budget in the year 2008-2009 was £12.5 million and in 2009-10 planned expenditure of £10.8 million.
	The number of full-time equivalent members of staff engaged in the Digital Communications Unit is currently 15 with no vacant posts, employed at a cost of £713,387 for 2008-09, with planned expenditure for 2009-10 being £705,553 The remit of the unit covers all online services from the Department including elements of Direct Gov, Teachers TV and essential email communications and phone line support services to local authorities, Regional Government Offices and to all schools.

Education: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2009,  Official Report, columns 1408-9W, on education: finance, how much of the allocation to Making Good Progress will be spent on the single level tests; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: The Department has allocated a total of £5.22 million to the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency during the financial year 2009-10 to develop and administer single level tests (SLTs). This covers funding for SLTs as part of the Making Good Progress pilot, which ran until July 2009, and for the extended SLT pilot, announced in the Department's response to the Expert Group on Assessment's report. Funding has not been confirmed yet for the financial year 2010-11.
	In addition the Department is allocating in 2009-10 a participation allowance to schools participating in the extended SLT pilot of £2 per pupil to support participation in evaluation activity. £0.4 million has been allocated in this financial year for the independent evaluation of the MGP pilot (which includes SLTs) and of the extended SLT pilot.

Family Courts: Guardians

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent representations he has received on the adequacy of supply of guardians in the family courts; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department is aware of issues regarding the adequacy of supply of guardians in the family courts, and my officials are working with CAFCASS to address delays in allocating cases to guardians.
	A sharp rise in the number of care applications since December 2008 has put pressure on the family justice system in general, and the supply of guardians in particular. As of 30 September 2009, CAFCASS had a work load of 13,355 public law cases, 979 of which were awaiting allocation to a guardian.
	A number of steps have been taken to reduce the number of unallocated cases. This Department recently provided £1.6 million of additional funding to CAFCASS in this financial year to tackle the backlog in the London area. CAFCASS itself has developed operating priorities to enable guardians to manage their work load as efficiently and effectively as possible. The President of the Family Division has also issued interim guidance, to operate until March 2010, which aims to reduce the number of cases without guardians in the family courts.

Free School Meals: Eligibility

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will make it his policy to extend the provision of free school meals to families on working tax credit; and if he will make a statement.

Diana Johnson: We have no plans to extend free school meals to families on working tax credit.
	However, we are currently running a two-year pilot in three local authorities in deprived areas to test different approaches to free school meals. Wolverhampton is extending the free school meal eligibility rules to include pupils whose parents receive working tax credit and have an annual income of up to £16,040. Durham and Newham are piloting free school lunches to all primary pupils. We want to learn the lessons of those pilots before making decisions on any national extension.

GCE A-Level: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what average total point score was achieved by pupils taking A-level or equivalent qualifications in each school in Tamworth constituency in each of the last 10 years.

Vernon Coaker: The information can be found in the Achievement and Attainment Tables found in the House of Commons Library and published on the following website:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/performancetables/
	Figures for the 2008/09 academic year are not available until early January 2010.

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Month

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department has given to support Gypsy, Roma and Traveller month.

Vernon Coaker: Since its inception in 2008, the Department has contributed £195,000 towards the costs associated with the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history month in June 2008 and 2009. The funding has been used to stage events around the country to raise awareness, celebrate and explore the history, culture and language of these communities, and to produce materials and resources for use in schools and local authorities. The month gives an opportunity to correct the myths, tackle the prejudice and offer a balanced view of issues facing the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.
	We have also established a Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Education Stakeholder Group, comprising representatives from all three communities. The group, in addition to offering advice, will actively engage in raising awareness and helping to change attitudes and behaviours, as well as supporting our work to improve levels of ascription, attendance, transition and attainment to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils.

Home Education

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of the cost under each budgetary heading of implementing each of the recommendations of the Badman Review of elective home education in England.

Diana Johnson: We estimate, subject to discussion with the Local Government Association, that the overall additional costs for implementing the registration and monitoring elements of the Badman Review recommendations will be £21.65 million in the first year with additional ongoing annual costs of £9.78 million.
	We estimate that an additional support package for home educated children will cost a further £21 million in the first year rising to £22 million in subsequent years. This is based on an estimated cohort of 25,000 home educated children who all seek additional support. We know that this estimate may be too low and we will adjust our funding commitments as local authorities get more clarity over the numbers of home educated children and the services they may seek.
	The 28 recommendations are wide ranging but the financial costs fall into the following broad categories:
	
		
			  Estimated cost 
			  £ 
			   First Year  Ongoing 
			 Registration and deregistering from schools 14,000,000 2,500,000 
			 Monitoring 7,000,000 7,000,000 
			 Training 350,000 280,000 
			 Evaluation 300,000 0 
			 Support package 21,000,000 22,000,000 
			 Total 42,650.000 31,780,000

Parents: Training

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many parents have attended a parenting course for separated parents under the provisions of the Children and Adoption Act 2006; and what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of such courses since December 2008.

Dawn Primarolo: As at the end June 2009, from national data collected by CAFCASS, 21 people had attended a parenting programme under the provisions of the Children and Adoption Act 2006. It is too early to make any assessment of the effectiveness of this programme.

Pre-School Education

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he expects all two to five- year-olds to have access to the pre-school entitlement of 15 hours per week; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: From September 2010 every three and four-year-old will be eligible to receive 15 hours free early learning per week for 38 weeks of the year. Most local authorities are already delivering the new 15-hour offer to their 25 per cent. most disadvantaged children from September 2009.
	We are committed to rolling out a free entitlement to two-year-olds, stage by stage. The most disadvantaged two-year-olds in every local authority can already access a free place of at least 10 hours a week, 38 weeks per year. The Prime Minister recently announced that we will extend the two-year-old places to 250,000 children by end of the next Parliament. This is an increase of over 10-fold. Any future extension to the offer will be considered when practicable.

Pre-School Education: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 8 July 2009,  Official Report, column 892W, on pre-school education: finance, how much of the £363 million unspent by his Department on early years capital programmes in the financial year 2008-09 had been intended for the Quality and Access Early Years capital grant.

Dawn Primarolo: Childcare, Quality and Access capital forms part of the main capital block of the Sure Start, Early Years and Childcare grant (together with funding for children's centres and, in 2008-09, workplace nurseries). The constituent parts of the block are not individually ring-fenced, allowing local authorities the freedom to spend the grant flexibly to best meet their local objectives.
	The Department does not require local authorities to disaggregate their funding until they submit an audited annual financial statement detailing how much they spent on each funding strand. For 2008-09 those statements are not due before the end of October 2009.
	The Department's accounts at year end need to be finalised before the audited returns are due from local authorities. Therefore the underspend for Early Years' capital is estimated based on the amounts claimed in year and the trend in historic spend rates. The Department will be in a position to confirm those estimates and disaggregate expenditure on Childcare, Quality and Access once audited accounts are received.

Primary Education

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of children in primary schools linked to phase one Sure Start centres achieved the national standard in each of their key stage 1 assessments in the last 12 months.

Dawn Primarolo: We do not collect data on the percentage of children in primary schools linked to phase one Sure Start children's centres who achieved the national standard in each of their key stage 1 assessments, and to collect this information would involve disproportionate cost. The overall Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP) results were published in a Statistical First Release on 14 October 2009.

Primary Education

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children attended  (a) two,  (b) three,  (c) four,  (d) five and  (e) 10 primary schools in the last year for which figures are available.

Diana Johnson: The requested information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Pupil Exclusions

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  for what average length of time a permanently excluded pupil missed school through fixed-period exclusion before the permanent exclusion took effect in each year for which figures are available;
	(2)  on how many occasions on average a permanently excluded pupil was given a fixed-period exclusion before permanent exclusion in each year for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: The available information for 2006/07 and 2007/08 is shown in the table.
	The table shows the average number of days that pupils spent out of their school following one or more fixed period exclusions prior to receiving a permanent exclusion from the same school. This does not imply that they missed education over the whole of this period, since the Education and Inspections Act 2006, which came into effect in September 2007, requires schools to provide full-time suitable education from the sixth day of any period of fixed period exclusion of six days or more.
	
		
			  Primary, secondary and special schools( 1, 2, 3 ) average number and length of fixed period exclusion prior to permanent exclusion( 4, 5 ) England, 2007/08 
			   2006/07  2007/08 
			 Average number of fixed period exclusions received prior to permanent exclusion(4) 2.3 2.2 
			 Average number of days of fixed period exclusion prior to permanent exclusion(5) 10.8 7.9 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes city technology colleges and academies (including all-through academies). (3) Includes maintained and non-maintained special schools. Excludes general hospital schools. (4) The number of instances of fixed period exclusion of pupil enrolments who were subsequently permanently excluded by the same school, divided by the total number of pupil enrolments who were permanently excluded during the year. Figures are as reported by schools. (5) The total number of days of fixed period exclusion of pupil enrolments who were subsequently permanently excluded by the same school, divided by the total number of pupil enrolments who were permanently excluded during the year. Figures are as reported by schools.  Source: School Census

Pupil Referral Units

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 9 July 2009,  Official Report, columns 997-8W, on pupil referral units, what the equivalent figures are for each local authority area.

Vernon Coaker: This is a matter for Ofsted. HM Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, has written to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply has been placed in the Libraries.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 20 October 2009:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for response.
	In my response to Parliamentary Question 282023 of 9 July 2009, I indicated that 130 pupil referral units are recorded as having closed between 1 June 2004 and 31 May 2009. Of these, 54 were never inspected by Ofsted and 37 had received no more than one inspection. Eight of these 37 were placed in special measures at that inspection. Table A shows the Local Authority of the 54 pupil referral units which were not inspected by Ofsted; and Table B shows the Local Authority of the 37 pupil referral units which received no more than one inspection, indicating where that inspection resulted in the unit being placed in special measures.
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Vernon Coaker MP, Minister of State for Schools and Learners, and placed in the library of both Houses.
	
		
			  Table A: Number of pupil referral units in each local authority which closed during the last 5 years and had never been inspected by Ofsted 
			  Local authority  Number of pupil referral units 
			 Bolton 7 
			 Brent 3 
			 Bristol City of 1 
			 Bromley 1 
			 Cambridgeshire 1 
			 Coventry 1 
			 Doncaster 1 
			 Enfield 1 
			 Essex 2 
			 Havering 2 
			 Hillingdon 1 
			 Hounslow 2 
			 Knowsley 1 
			 Lambeth 1 
			 Lancashire 1 
			 Leicester 1 
			 Leicestershire 2 
			 Lewisham 1 
			 Manchester 1 
			 Medway 1 
			 Northamptonshire 1 
			 Reading 5 
			 Rotherham 1 
			 Salford 1 
			 Somerset 3 
			 Southwark 1 
			 Telford and Wrekin 1 
			 Thurrock 1 
			 Trafford 1 
			 Waltham Forest 3 
			 West Berkshire 3 
			 Wokingham 1 
			 Total 54 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Number of pupil referral units which closed during the last 5 years and were inspected no more than once, and of these, which were placed in to special measures at that inspection. 
			  Local authority  Number of pupil referral units inspected no more than once  Of these: number of pupil referral units placed in special measures at that inspection 
			 Barnsley 1 0 
			 Bolton 1 0 
			 Brent 1 0 
			 Camden 1 0 
			 Cornwall 2 1 
			 Coventry 1 0 
			 Essex 2 0 
			 Gloucestershire 1 0 
			 Hampshire 1 0 
			 Islington 1 1 
			 Lambeth 1 0 
			 Lancashire 1 1 
			 Leeds 1 0 
			 Leicester 1 0 
			 Lewisham 1 0 
			 Liverpool 1 1 
			 Milton Keynes 1 1 
			 North East Lincolnshire 1 1 
			 North Tyneside 1 0 
			 Northamptonshire 1 0 
			 Nottinghamshire 1 0 
			 Portsmouth 1 0 
			 Rotherham 1 0 
			 Salford 1 0 
			 Somerset 3 0 
			 Southwark 1 1 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 1 0 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 1 1 
			 Telford and Wrekin 1 0 
			 West Berkshire 2 0 
			 Wigan 2 0 
			 Total 37 8

Pupils: Immigrants

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what research his Department has  (a) undertaken,  (b) commissioned and  (c) evaluated on the educational achievement of children of (i) Bangladeshi and (ii) Pakistani origin in the last five years.

Diana Johnson: In the last five years this Department has  (a) undertaken two pieces of internal analysis entitled 2006-Ethnicity and Education: The Evidence on Minority Ethnic Pupils aged five-16 and 2007-Ethnicity and Degree Attainment; and,  (b) commissioned two pieces of research entitled 2004-Inclusion and Pupil Achievement and 2009-Drivers and Challenges to raising the achievement of pupils from Bangladeshi, Somali and Turkish backgrounds, all of which have included the educational achievement of Bangladeshi and Pakistani children.

Reading: Nottingham

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proposals his Department has to encourage Nottingham city council to take up the Every Child a Reader scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Diana Johnson: Nottingham city council has been part of the Every Child a Reader programme since 2008-09. Key Stage 1 results for reading are still below the national average of 84 per cent., and now 78 per cent. of children achieve at least level 2. Nottingham city council employs seven Reading Recovery Teachers, with another four being trained this year, and they have a share of the Teacher Leader employed by their consortium of three local authorities.

Schools: Finance

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in what ways the additional funding allocated to schools for 2009-2012 will be used.

Vernon Coaker: The dedicated schools grant, which provides core funding for schools, increased by an average 3.7 per cent. in 2009-10 and will increase by an average 4.3 per cent. in 2010-11. All schools will get a minimum guaranteed increase of 2.1 per cent. per pupil per year to cover cost pressures such as increases in teachers' pay. In addition there is significant headroom in the settlement to pay for ministerial priorities such as more personalised learning to help raise standards and narrow the gaps in achievement, but it is up to schools to decide how best they can use this funding to support children's outcomes.

Schools: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department has spent on refurbishment of  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in (i) Chorley and (ii) Lancashire in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: School capital funding is allocated on a local authority basis and prioritised locally. Accordingly, central records are not maintained on a constituency basis, nor on the split of expenditure between primary and secondary schools. Refurbishment consists both of capital improvement and revenue repair. Because of this, the capital allocations listed in the table will have been supplemented by the use of revenue funding prioritised locally. In addition, Lancashire may have had other capital receipts which it put towards refurbishment.
	The following table sets out Lancashire school capital allocations from 1996-97 to 2009-10.
	
		
			   £ million 
			 1996-97 12.9 
			 1997-98 13.3 
			 1998-99 19.5 
			 1999-2000 36.8 
			 2000-01 42.2 
			 2001-02 40.6 
			 2002-03 63.7 
			 2003-04 72.7 
			 2004-05 60.6 
			 2005-06 133.0 
			 2006-07 150.5 
			 2007-08 182.5 
			 2008-09 62.4 
			 2009-10 132.2 
		
	
	The large allocations from 2005-06 to 2009-10, excepting 2008-09, include a total allocation of £332 million in respect of the Building Schools for the Future programme.

Schools: Norwich

Chloe Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what capital funding was allocated to schools in Norwich, North constituency in  (a) 1997,  (b) 2007 and  (c) 2008.

Vernon Coaker: School capital funding is allocated on a local authority basis and prioritised locally. Accordingly, central records are not maintained on a constituency basis. Allocations to Norfolk in the financial year 1997-98 are £4.9 million, in 2007-08 £55.9 million, and in 2008-09 £42.3 million.
	The high figure of £55.9 million in 2007-08 includes an allocation of £5.3 million for successful and popular schools, and £9.9 million for basic need expansion.

Schools: Norwich

Chloe Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the average teacher-pupil ratio is for each school in Norwich, North constituency.

Vernon Coaker: The following table provides the within school pupil to teacher ratios (PTR) in state funded schools in Norwich, North constituency, January 2009.
	
		
			  Within school pupil:teacher ratios( 1)  in state funded schools. Years: January 2009. Coverage: Norwich, North constituency 
			  LA estab .  number  School name  PTR 
			  Primary   
			 9262146 Sprowston Junior School 23.1 
			 9262147 Sprowston Infant School 20.8 
			 9262160 Hillside Avenue Primary School, Thorpe 23.7 
			 9262161 St. William's Primary School 24.0 
			 9262247 Firside Junior School 24.8 
			 9262251 Cecil Gowing Infant School 22.6 
			 9262266 Falcon Junior School 19.1 
			 9262267 White Woman Lane Junior School 20.0 
			 9262271 Heather Avenue Infant School 19.6 
			 9262283 Nightingale Infant School 23.8 
			 9262289 Arden Grove Infant and Nursery School 19.3 
			 9262303 George White Junior School 14.8 
			 9262308 Mousehold Infant and Nursery School 20.6 
			 9262312 Angel Road Junior School 20.9 
			 9262320 Angel Road Infant School 30.2 
			 9262361 Kinsale Infant School 24.1 
			 9262362 Kinsale Junior School 19.3 
			 9262364 Lodge Lane Infant School 26.8 
			 9262382 Sparhawk Infant School and Nursery 19.8 
			 9262384 Garrick Green Infant School 28.2 
			 9262395 Ghost Hill Infant and Nursery School 20.0 
			 9262424 Drayton Community Infant School 26.6 
			 9263060 Old Catton CofE VC Junior School 19.1 
			 9263085 Taverham Junior School 20.5 
			 9263152 Drayton CofE Junior School 26.7 
			 9263423 Heartsease Primary School 18.9 
			 9263424 Mile Cross Primary School 19.6 
			 9263425 Catton Grove Primary School 18.0 
			 9263430 Dussindale Primary School 19.4 
			
			  Secondary   
			 9264005 Hellesdon High School 17.9 
			 9264043 Sprowston Community High School 17.8 
			 9264070 Sewell Park College 17.7 
			 9264083 Thorpe St. Andrew School 16.6 
			 9264084 Taverham High School 18.8 
			
			  Special   
			 9267006 Hall School 9.4 
			
			  Academy   
			 9266905 The Open Academy 13.0 
			 (1) The within school PTR is calculated by dividing the total FTE number of pupils on roll in schools by the total FTE number of qualified teachers regularly employed in schools. For statistical purposes only, pupils who do not attend both morning and afternoon at least five days a week are regarded as part-time. Each part-time pupil is treated as 0.5 FTE.  Source: School Census

Schools: Standards

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the cost to his Department of the School Improvement and Targets Unit was in the latest period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 21 October 2009,  Official Report, column 15601W.

Schools: Vetting

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families whether he plans to issue guidance on Independent Safeguarding Authority vetting arrangements in relation to parental visits to schools.

Dawn Primarolo: holding answer 2 November 2009
	Parental visits to schools, to meet teachers or to watch a school play or sports match, are not covered by the new Vetting and Barring scheme. This is made clear in the interim guidance on the scheme that was published on 12 October 2009, copies of which are in the House Libraries and which can be found on the ISA website at this address:
	www.isa-gov.org.uk/default.aspx?page=402
	This point will also be clearly highlighted in the guidance relating to registration with the scheme, which will be published in due course.

Special Educational Needs: North West

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding his Department has allocated to special needs provision in  (a) Lancashire and  (b) each county in the north-west in each year since 1997.

Diana Johnson: The available information on how much funding has been allocated to special needs provision in each local authority in  (a) Lancashire and  (b) the East of England in each county in the north-west in each year since 1997 is contained within the following table. Data are not available prior to 2000-01.
	
		
			  Budgeted net expenditure on the provision of education for children with special educational needs by local authorities in England since 2000-01 
			  £ 
			  Local authority name  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			  England 2,763,226,000 2,908,380,000 3,038,661,000 3,466,180,000 3,774,757,000 4,120,549,000 4,481,245,000 4,863,604,000 5,094,462,000 5,188,355,000 
			
			  North West GOR 399,633,000 413,714,000 436,147,000 490,648,000 517,610,000 569,474,000 621,745,000 665,716,000 693,192,000 707,805,000 
			 Blackburn and Darwen 13,775,000 13,667,000 14,392,000 16,207,000 17,320,000 19,210,000 20,652,000 23,552,000 17,180,000 17,716,000 
			 Blackpool 10,260,000 10,533,000 9,985,000 12,895,000 12,827,000 13,556,000 14,241,000 15,020,000 16,326,000 16,852,000 
			 Bolton 14,605,000 14,943,000 15,900,000 17,216,000 18,983,000 19,429,000 21,987,000 22,747,000 24,449,000 24,513,000 
			 Bury 9,455,000 9,938,000 11,099,000 12,551,000 13,375,000 15,915,000 16,940,000 17,891,000 20,186,000 21,214,000 
			 Cheshire (Pre-LGR) 31,671,000 33,787,000 36,732,000 43,613,000 47,962,000 58,423,000 65,851,000 69,129,000 74,423,000 - 
			 Cheshire East - - - - - - - - - 36,936,000 
			 Cheshire West and Chester - - - - - - - - - 38,974,000 
			 Cumbria 22,777,000 23,761,000 29,097,000 28,807,000 29,383,000 29,903,000 32,848,000 35,418,000 35,841,000 34,565,000 
			 Halton 9,276,000 9,500,000 9,753,000 10,931,000 11,073,000 11,452,000 11,664,000 12,178,000 12,063,000 12,572,000 
			 Knowsley 10,137,000 10,802,000 12,973,000 13,548,000 13,715,000 14,292,000 14,481,000 16,088,000 18,773,000 18,304,000 
			 Lancashire 79,766,000 82,826,000 86,666,000 99,347,000 106,320,000 109,113,000 118,120,000 128,721,000 126,573,000 130,680,000 
			 Liverpool 25,981,000 26,125,000 28,671,000 26,140,000 25,510,000 29,166,000 31,394,000 34,413,000 37,037,000 37,451,000 
			
			 Manchester 24,053,000 26,238,000 28,448,000 35,869,000 33,912,000 38,646,000 54,584,000 58,501,000 62,021,000 67,042,000 
			 Oldham 12,723,000 13,335,000 13,056,000 14,871,000 15,819,000 17,680,000 17,486,000 20,261,000 21,989,000 22,190,000 
			 Rochdale 11,384,000 11,841,000 13,400,000 14,687,000 15,671,000 17,076,000 18,455,000 19,294,000 20,667,000 21,557,000 
			
			 Salford 15,807,000 16,268,000 15,763,000 18,548,000 20,283,000 30,012,000 24,211,000 24,178,000 25,167,000 23,803,000 
			 Sefton 15,161,000 14,700,000 15,122,000 16,495,000 17,523,000 18,539,000 20,391,000 20,786,000 20,740,000 20,513,000 
			 St. Helens 8,987,000 9,277,000 9,477,000 11,612,000 12,156,000 12,037,000 13,067,000 13,775,000 14,470,000 14,488,000 
			 Stockport 12,546,000 14,109,000 13,252,000 14,181,000 17,038,000 20,558,000 20,963,000 20,941,000 22,330,000 23,282,000 
			 Tameside 11,394,000 11,734,000 10,584,000 12,381,000 13,271,000 14,151,000 14,978,000 17,793,000 17,125,000 17,637,000 
			 Trafford 10,841,000 11,167,000 12,073,000 14,494,000 15,917,000 17,799,000 18,355,000 19,640,000 21,660,000 23,381,000 
			 Warrington 9,340,000 9,803,000 10,150,000 11,357,000 12,315,000 13,275,000 15,056,000 16,477,000 19,412,000 19,872,000 
			 Wigan 19,757,000 17,858,000 18,177,000 20,046,000 21,306,000 21,391,000 24,929,000 26,272,000 27,419,000 27,703,000 
			 Wirral 19,936,000 21,501,000 21,377,000 24,853,000 25,931,000 27,849,000 31,093,000 32,642,000 37,343,000 36,561,000 
			  Notes:  1. The data are drawn from local authorities Section 52 Budget Statements (Tables 1 and 2) submitted to the DCSF.  2. Includes planned expenditure on the provision for pupils with statements and the provision for non-statemented pupils with SEN, support for inclusion, inter- authority recoupment, fees for pupils at independent special schools and abroad, educational psychology service, local authority functions in relation to child protection, therapies and other health related services, parent partnership, guidance and information, the monitoring of SEN provision and inclusion administration, assessment and co-ordination. Also included is the funding delegated to nursery, primary and secondary schools identified as notional SEN and the individual schools budget (ISB) for special schools.  3. The ISB for special schools will include some general education costs for pupils with SEN in addition to those costs specifically for SEN while the figures recorded against notional SEN are only indicative of the amount that might by spent by schools on SEN and, from 2004-05 onwards, notional SEN delegated to nursery schools was reported on section 52 for the first time (nursery schools notional SEN accounts for £7.8 million, £9.5 million, £10.4 million, £11.1 million and £11.7 million of the respective 2004-05, 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 England totals). In 2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09 local authorities in England also budgeted £499.6 million, £528.5 million, £554.9 million and £552.6 million for SEN transport expenditure but this is not included in the above table as figures are not available prior to 2005-06.  4. From 2009-10 figures no longer include LA functions in relation to child protection which was previously included within SEN section of budget Table 1. It is now included within Children and Young People's Safety section of the table.  5. Cheshire LA ceased to exist and became two new authorities (Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester) as part of the LGR on 1 April 2009.  6. Figures are rounded to the nearest thousand pounds and may not sum due to rounding. Cash terms figures as reported by local authorities as at 28 October 2009.

Specialised Diplomas

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many pupils began studying for a diploma in September 2009.

Iain Wright: Figures from local authorities will have been completed, returned and confirmed by the end of the year.

Specialised Diplomas: Finance

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what the cost to date has been of the diploma aggregation service; and how much is expected to be spent on the service in each of the next five years.

Vernon Coaker: The diploma aggregation service is designed and managed by the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Authority to enable the aggregation and awarding of diplomas. It became operational in September 2008. The total cost of the service during its initial development phase (April 2006 to 31 August 2008) was £18 million. Since then we have continued to invest in both enhancing and maintaining the service. In the subsequent period to the end of the current financial year (September 2008 to March 2010) the estimated additional cost of investment and maintenance is £6.4 million, with running costs in the following financial year estimated at £2.2 million. Later financial years will be considered as part of the next spending review process.

Specialised Diplomas: Finance

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent steps his Department has taken to increase levels of educational opportunity for children from the most deprived households.

Vernon Coaker: Increasing levels of educational opportunity for disadvantaged children is a top priority for this Government. This is reflected in one of the Government's public service agreements which commits us to:
	narrowing achievement gaps at the Early Years Foundation Stage;
	narrowing the achievement gap between pupils eligible for free school meals and their peers at key stages 2 and 4;
	narrowing gaps in the proportion of pupils progressing by two levels in English and mathematics at the end of key stages 2, 3 and 4;
	increasing the numbers of Looked After Children reaching Level 4 in English at key stage 2 and reaching Level 4 in mathematics at key stage 2;
	increasing the numbers of Looked After Children achieving five or more good GCSEs at key stage 4; and
	narrowing the gap between full-time higher education initial participation rates for young people aged 18-20 from the top three and the bottom four socio-economic classes.
	As part of our programme of work to deliver this PSA, we have introduced a range of initiatives designed to increase the level of educational opportunities for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, from their early years right though to early adulthood. For example, from this September we are extending free early learning opportunities to the most disadvantaged two-year-olds and their families and we are beginning to roll out one-to-one tuition on a national basis to pupils in key stages 2 and 3 who are falling behind.
	Targeted programmes such as the Extra Mile pathfinder and the extended services pilot for disadvantaged children are raising the aspirations and attainment of individual pupils. Last December, we legislated to require local authorities to set targets for the attainment of all free school meals pupils, to help ensure that help and support are targeted where they are most needed. And the Aimhigher Programme is raising aspirations in 41 areas by providing summer schools, university visits and masterclasses to 14-19-year-olds from low income households, as well as to Looked After Children and disabled young people from all backgrounds.
	All of this work is having an impact. The 2009 Early Years Foundation Stage Profile results show that children living in the most disadvantaged areas are improving faster than their peers-the gap has narrowed from 16 per cent. last year to 15 per cent. this year. In schools too, while the performance of all pupils has improved substantially over the last decade, some of the fastest progress has been made by children eligible for free school meals. To give just one example, between 2002 and 2008, the percentage of free school meals pupils achieving the equivalent of five or more good GCSEs rose by 17 percentage points (from 23 per cent. to 40 per cent.), in comparison with a 13.3 percentage point rise for non-free school meals pupils.
	Of course there is more to be done and in 'Breaking the Link between disadvantage and low attainment' and the Schools White Paper we set out a wide range of further plans. These include a proposal to include a measure of schools' progress in narrowing attainment gaps for their disadvantaged pupils in the new school report card, (on which we are currently consulting).

Teachers: Absenteeism

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what steps his Department is taking to seek to reduce the level of absences due to stress amongst school staff.

Vernon Coaker: The Department recognises that there are a variety of factors that contribute to stress among teachers and the wider school workforce. Accordingly we have put in place a range of measures to address the causes.
	Through our ongoing work with social partners, we are undertaking a significant programme of workforce reform to help address those causes associated with workload. The National Agreement on Raising Standards and Tackling Workload, which was signed in January 2003, led to guaranteed time for planning, preparation and assessment, limits on the amount of cover teachers could do, and a transfer of admin tasks to support staff, all of which help address the issue of workload. There have also been increases in the number of teachers and support staff working in schools. Since 1997, the number of support staff has more than doubled and teacher numbers have risen by over 40,000.
	Encouraging better pupil behaviour and attendance also has a direct impact on reducing teacher stress. That is why we are investing in a comprehensive national programme to strengthen schools' capacity to manage pupil behaviour.
	In addition we have encouraged better management of school workforce health matters through improved occupational health guidance for schools and local authorities, and we are working with employers to encourage early intervention to avoid ill health retirements. We have reinforced these moves through the release of guidance on common mental health problems which give practical advice on positive action to support teachers and the wider workforce through the stresses and strains that can arise through life and work.

Teachers: Lancashire

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) teachers and  (b) teaching assistants were working for Lancashire Education Authority (i) in 1997 and (ii) on the most recent date for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: The information requested is published in tables 19 and 26 of the Statistical First Release (SFR) School Workforce in England (including Local Authority level figures) January 2009 (Revised) published on 29 September 2009. The SFR is available at the following web link:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000874/Tables19to27_Vals.xls

Teachers: Training

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many entrants for mathematics specialist initial teacher training there were in  (a) 2002,  (b) 2004,  (c) 2006 and  (d) 2008; and what percentage of the Department's target for each year these figures represented.

Vernon Coaker: The available information is given in the table.
	
		
			  Initial teacher training: Recruitment and place numbers. Years: 2001/02 to 2008/09. Coverage: England 
			   2001/02  2002/03  2003/04  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07  2007/08  2008/09 
			  Recruitment 
			 1. College based courses 
			 Primary and Secondary 29,190 31,280 33,930 34,520 33,700 32,650 31,350 31,270 
			  O f which: 
			 Secondary 16,060 16,760 18,290 17,980 17,440 17,040 16,230 15,950 
			  O f which: 
			 Specialising in Mathematics 1,550 1,670 1,940 2,030 1,920 2,000 1,970 2,040 
			  
			 2. College based courses and employment based routes 
			 Primary and Secondary 33,320 36,090 40,740 42,000 40,920 40,020 38,360 36,380 
			  O f which: 
			 Secondary 18,580 19,870 22,590 22,720 21,970 21,710 20,800 19,260 
			  O f which: 
			 Specialising in Mathematics 1,860 2,060 2,510 2,590 2,440 2,480 2,420 2,380 
			  
			  ITT places 
			 1. College based courses 
			 Primary and Secondary 29,890 31,790 34,675 35,800 34,300 32,800 31,300 n/a 
			  O f which: 
			 Secondary 17,390 17,790 19,475 19,500 18,500 17,500 16,500 n/a 
			  O f which: 
			 Specialising in Mathematics 1,940 1,940 2,315 2,350 2,350 2,350 2,350 n/a 
			  
			 2. College based courses and employment based routes 
			 Primary and Secondary n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 36,845 
			  O f which: 
			 Secondary n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 19,385 
			  O f which: 
			 Specialising in Mathematics n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 2,735 
			  
			  Percentage of recruitment against place numbers 
			 1. College based courses 
			 Primary and Secondary 97.7 98.4 97 8 96.4 98.3 99.5 100.2 n/a 
			  O f which: 
			 Secondary 92.3 94.2 93.9 92.2 94.3 97.4 98.4 n/a 
			  O f which: 
			 Specialising in Mathematics 80.1 86.3 83.9 86.3 81.7 84.9 84.0 n/a 
			  
			 2. College based courses and employment based routes 
			 Primary and Secondary n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 98.7 
			  O f which: 
			 Secondary n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 99.3 
			  of which: 
			 Specialising in Mathematics n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 87.1 
			 n/a = Not applicable  Notes: 1. Recruitment figures for 2008/09 are provisional and subject to change. College based recruitment for 2008/09 includes actual registrations and forecast trainees who are expected to enter ITT during the academic year. Employment based recruitment figures for 2008/09 were for the autumn term only. A further 1,900 trainees were expected to start on employment based routes during the year. 2. College based ITT recruitment includes Universities, other Higher Education Institutions, School Centred ITT (SCITT) and Open University. 3. Employment based ITT recruitment includes Teach First. The first year of the Teach First programme was 2003/04. 4. Recruitment numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10. 5. Number of ITT places prior to 2008/09 include SCITT but exclude employment based ITT. Targets for 2008/09 onwards include employment based ITT.  Source: TDA's ITT Trainee Numbers Census and TDA's Employment Based Database

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Bankruptcy

Vincent Cable: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many bankruptcies there were in  (a) England,  (b) London,  (c) Richmond-upon-Thames and  (d) Twickenham constituency of individuals in each age group of each of the last five years.

Ian Lucas: The available information on the number of bankruptcies in England, London, Richmond-upon-Thames and Twickenham constituency, by age group, may be seen in tables la to 1d as follows.
	
		
			  Table  1 a: Bankrupts by age, England 
			   Age group( 1) 
			   Under 25  25-34  35-44  45-54  55-64  65 and over  Unknown 
			 2004 2,415 8,423 9,417 5,581 3,055 874 2,418 
			 2005 3,187 10,780 12,383 7,698 4,312 1,370 3,311 
			 2006 3,646 14,208 16,949 10,662 6,116 2,084 3,828 
			 2007 2,824 14,249 17,671 11,575 6,507 2,334 4,000 
			 2008 2,659 14,595 18,716 12,822 6,649 2,388 4,059 
		
	
	
		
			  Table  1 b: Bankrupts by age, London 
			   Age group( 1) 
			   Under 25  25-34  35-44  45-54  55-64  65 and over  Unknown 
			 2004 166 860 1,141 674 342 112 555 
			 2005 221 1,208 1,557 1,078 495 220 547 
			 2006 214 1,448 2,204 1,427 725 281 472 
			 2007 170 1,391 2,069 1,478 800 311 409 
			 2008 128 1,292 2,033 1,562 761 297 424 
		
	
	
		
			  Table  1 c: Bankrupts by age, Richmond-upon-Thames 
			   Age group( 1) 
			   Under 25  25-34  35-44  45-54  55-64  65 and over  Unknown 
			 2004 4 15 23 14 16 4 5 
			 2005 1 21 24 27 20 4 4 
			 2006 2 21 46 31 22 7 9 
			 2007 4 32 52 17 29 6 5 
			 2008 0 14 32 38 14 3 6 
		
	
	
		
			  Table  1 d: Bankrupts by age, Twickenham constituency 
			   Age Group 
			   Under 25  25-34  35-44  45-54  55-64  65 and Over  Unknown 
			 2004 3 9 13 7 10 3 4 
			 2005 0 12 11 15 10 1 3 
			 2006 2 13 27 21 8 5 8 
			 2007 2 25 38 8 18 1 0 
			 2008 0 7 19 28 6 2 3 
			 (1 )Where the bankrupt has provided a valid postcode (increasing from 94.5 per cent. of cases in 2004 to 96.9 per cent. in 2008)

Broadband

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to upgrade broadband facilities in the UK.

Stephen Timms: We have recently set up the Network Design and Procurement Company as we pledged to do in the Digital Britain Report. The company will be responsible for procuring the upgrade and replacement works to deliver the Universal Service Commitment (USC) for 2 Mbps to virtually every community by 2012. In due course, it will also be responsible for the administration of the Next Generation Fund outlined in the Digital Britain White Paper, with a view to 90 per cent. of UK households having access to next generation broadband services by 2017.
	On take-up of broadband and Digital Inclusion, the Government have also appointed Martha Lane Fox as our Digital Inclusion Champion. Her role will be to find ways of helping people without previous experience of computers to develop the skills needed to make use of the internet in order to take advantage of the benefits it offers.

Broadband: Finance

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of delivery of the universal service commitment of two megabits per second by 2012; and from which of his Department's budgets the funding for the commitment will be drawn.

Stephen Timms: The Government set out in the Digital Britain report that it would make available £200 million of public funds to support delivery of the universal service commitment of two megabits per second by 2012. This will be drawn from a combination of the underspend on the Digital Switchover Fund (from the TV licence fee) and the £750 million BIS Strategic Investment Fund announced in the budget to support advanced industrial projects of strategic importance.

Broadband: Finance

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the cost of delivery of next generation broadband to at least 90 per cent. of homes and businesses by 2017; what proportion of that cost will be funded from the public purse; and what arrangements he plans to make for such funding.

Stephen Timms: The Broadband Stakeholder Group published a report in September 2008 on the cost of delivering next generation broadband nationwide. This put the cost of UK-wide fibre networks at between £5.1 billion and £28.8 billion depending on the technology used.
	The Digital Britain Report indicated that around 60 per cent. of homes are likely to be served by next generation broadband purely through market provision. The Government have proposed a supplement of 50p per month on each fixed copper line in order to raise £150 million-£175 million a year. This will provide a fund earmarked for supporting delivery of next generation broadband to at least 90 per cent. of homes and businesses by 2017. The exact proportion of public and private investment in relation to those areas not served on a purely commercial basis by the market will be determined by a competitive process. We will bring forward for Parliament's approval legislation to deliver this fund in Spring 2010.

Business: UK Trade and Investment

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses with  (a) fewer than 50,  (b) between 51 and 100,  (c) between 101 and 250 and  (d) more than 250 employees received assistance from UK Trade and Investment in each of the last four years.

Ian Lucas: holding answer 22 October 2009
	 This information is publicly available in UKTI's Performance and Impact Monitoring Survey, available at
	www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk/ukti/pims
	This covers activity delivered from the period beginning 1 July 2005 through to the end December 2008. The reports include validated and de-duplicated total number of companies helped through UKTI trade services and a wide range of characteristics of those companies.

Business: UK Trade and Investment

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many businesses received assistance from UK Trade and Investment in each of the last four years, broken down by  (a) region and  (b) local authority area.

Ian Lucas: holding answer 22 October 2009
	 The information is as follows:
	 (a) This information is publicly available in UKTI's Performance and Impact Monitoring Survey, available at
	www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk/ukti/pims
	This covers activity delivered from the period beginning 1 July 2005 through to the end December 2008. The reports include validated and de-duplicated total number of companies helped through UKTI trade services and a wide range of characteristics of those companies.
	 (b) UKTI does not hold this information.

Consolidated Contractors Corporation

David Davis: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what  (a) meetings,  (b) communications and  (c) other contacts Ministers and officials in his Department have had with the Consolidated Contractors Corporation (CCC Group) and its international offshoots in the last five years.

Ian Lucas: holding answer 20 October 2009
	UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) officials based in both the British Consulate General in Jerusalem and UKTI's headquarters in London have been in regular contact with Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) over the past two years, owing to the company's involvement on both the UK and Palestinian Councils of the Palestine Britain Business Council (PBBC). The Business Council, which was established with the assistance of UKTI, seeks to promote and facilitate bilateral trade and investment between the UK and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The Business Council was announced on the visit made to Israel in July 2008 by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister; and launched at the London Business Forum on Trade and Investment with Palestine on 15 December (in which my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills participated). Executives from Consolidated Contractors Company were involved in both the visit programme in Palestine and the London event.
	CCC is a major contractor in the Middle East and works closely with a variety of British companies. It is possible that there have been meetings and contacts which UKTI's records do not cover.

Departmental Energy

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has a strategy to encourage voltage optimisation on its estate.

Ian Lucas: This Department is in the process of submitting an application for Salix funding in order to install voltage optimisation equipment in its main building at 1 Victoria Street. On the basis of this installation being successful, we will encourage other bodies sponsored by the Department to do likewise.

Departmental Marketing

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much his Department and its predecessor has spent on advertising and publicity in each of the last five years.

Patrick McFadden: Spending on advertising procured through the Central Office of Information by the former Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) in the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			  Campaign  Press  Radio  Poster  Internet  Media total 
			  2008-09  
			 Agency Workers Campaign 2008-09 (first part of the Vulnerable Workers campaign) 341,212 518,139 - - 859,351 
			 Employing People 2008-09 37,140 - - - 37,140 
			 National Minimum Wage 2008-09 30,260 34,429 114,133 - 178,821 
			 Dispute Resolution 2008-09 5,977 - - - 5,977 
			 Trawlermen Compensation Scheme 2008-09 3,317 - - - 3,317 
			 Total 2008-09 - - - - 1,084,606 
			   
			  2007-08  
			 Nuclear Energy Consultation 2007-08 146,380 - - - 146,380 
			 Employing People 2007-08 71,446 - - - 71,446 
			 National Minimum Wage 2007-08 4,447 392,297 157,411 - 554,155 
			 Total 2007-08 - - - - 771,981 
			   
			  2006-07  
			 Consumer Direct-Thomson Directories 2006-07 581,424 - - - 581,424 
			 DTI Classified Recruitment 2006-07 11,457 - - - 11,457 
			 ACAS Miscellaneous Advertising Activity 2006-07 82,641 146,308 - - 228,949 
			 Total 2006-07 - - - - 821,830 
			   
			  2005-06  
			 Consumer Direct 2005-06 366,936 823,011 87,903 170,000 1,447,850 
			 DTI Classified-Recruitment Advertising 2005-06 31,099 - - - 31,099 
			 SBS Business Link 2005-06 1,502,301 - - - 1,502,301 
			 New National Minimum Wage 2005-06 328,603 - - 41,000 369,603 
			 Directgov-DTI Employee Franchise 2005-06 117,690 - - 10,000 127,690 
			 Total 2005-06 - - - - 3,478,543 
			   
			  2004 - 05  
			 Consumer Direct 2004-05 170,600 326,738 209,150 - 706,488 
			 SBS Business Link 2004-05 552,712 - - - 552,712 
			 Import Licence Announcements 2004-05 74,300 - - - 74,300 
			 DTI Classified Recruitment Advertising 2004-05 41,007 - - - 41,007 
			 New Minimum Wage 2004-05 315,754 - - - 315,754 
			 Renewable Energy 2004-05 15,542 - - - 15,542 
			 Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion 2004-05 30,494 - - - 30,494 
			 Firework Safety 04-05 - (media only) 17,061 152,527 18,892 - 188,480 
			 DTI - Dispute Resolution (media only) 81,768 - - - 81,768 
			 SBS Press Media Buying Costs 2004-05 - - - - 3,255 
			 Total 2004-05 - - - - 2,009,800 
		
	
	Spending on advertising procured through the Central Office of Information by the former Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) is as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			   Press  Television  Radio  Media total 
			  2008-09 
			 Higher Education Student Finance campaign 2008-09 58,560 1,224,996 432,249 1,715,805 
			 Science Innovation Press Campaign 2008-09 149,577 - - 149,577 
			 Total 2008/09 - - - 1,865,382 
			  
			  2007-08 
			 Higher Education Student Finance 2007-08 229,751 1,198,017 597,984 2,025,702 
			 Total 2007/08 - - - 2,025,702 
		
	
	Details of any other expenditure on advertising are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Spending on external public relations procured by the Strategic Marketing team via the Central Office of Information (COI) or placed directly with PR companies for BERR and DTI in the last five years is as follows:
	
		
			   Amount spent (£) 
			  2008-09 BERR  
			 Employing People 165,596.25 
			 Consumer Protection Regulations 112,142.03 
			 Flexible working 24,733.63 
			 Queen's Awards 19,875 
			 Renewable Energy 2,506.54 
			 Total 2008-09 324,853.45 
			  2007 - 08 DTI and BERR  
			 Enterprising Britain 172,630.27 
			 Renewable Energy 109,326.38 
			 Employing People 30,030 
			 Queen's Awards 17,254.61 
			 Fireworks safety 15,000 
			 Consumer Protection Regulations 73,000 
			 Total 2007-08 417,241.26 
			   
			  2006 - 07 DTI  
			 Business Link PR 179,113 
			 Gap Analysis 9,071 
			 DTI Renewable Energy PR 131,582 
			 Small Business Service (SBS) Enterprising Britain PR 163,642 
			 Total 2006-07 483,408 
			   
			  2005-06 DTI  
			 Consumer Direct PR 32,694 
			 Consumer Direct PR 239,050 
			 Renewable Energy PR 137,080 
			 Small Business Service (SBS) Enterprising Britain PR 76,240 
			 SBS Interim PR activity 105,786 
			 Total 2005-06 590,850 
			   
			  2004 - 05 DTI  
			 DTI Best Business Practice PR 346,205 
			 DTI Best Practice Media Evaluation 5,910 
			 DTI Dispute Resolution PR 74,962 
			 DTI Best Practice PR 158,898 
			 DTI Renewables 572,633 
			 SBS Sunday Times Enterprise Network Sponsorship 146,497 
			 Total 2004-05 1,305,105 
		
	
	Spending on public relations, including contracts placed by DIUS using a framework agreement and by COI on behalf of the Department, is as follows:
	2007-08 total: £261,072
	2008-09 total: £193,300.

Departmental Official Cars

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether Government cars have been provided for the use of special advisers in his Department in the last 12 months.

Patrick McFadden: Special advisers in the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform are not provided with Government cars.

Departmental Postal Services

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills which companies are under contract to his Department to provide mail services; and when each such contract expires.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 27 October 2009
	This Department uses Royal Mail's first and second class services for its external standard mailings, although these services are not provided under contract.

Departmental Procurement

Mark Prisk: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what the procurement budget of his Department and its predecessor was in each of the last five years; and what proportion of that budget was spent on contracts placed with small and medium-sized enterprises in each such year.

Patrick McFadden: The Department does not separately identify a procurement budget within its total allocation of resources and neither did its predecessor departments, BERR and DIUS.
	Information on the percentage of procurement spend with SMEs is not generally recorded but in 2007-08, an exercise was undertaken that showed that SMEs accounted for the following percentages of total procurement spend:
	BERR-13 per cent.
	DIUS-32 per cent.
	The definition of an SME is taken from the Glover Report, which refers to EU Recommendation 2003/361/EC and stipulates that an SME is an organisation with a headcount of less than 250 and a maximum turnover of £40 million.
	Further information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Procurement

Mark Prisk: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what percentage of procurement contracts  (a) his Department and its predecessors and  (b) its agencies awarded to small businesses in (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08, (iii) 2008-09 and (iv) 2009-10; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: The Insolvency Service awarded the following percentage of procurement contracts to small businesses in each of the following financial years:
	
		
			   Percentage  Contracts awarded  To SMEs 
			 (1) 2006-07 50 10 5 
			 (2) 2007-08 80 10 8 
			 (3) 2008-09 59 17 10 
			 (4) 2009-10 (to date) 67 6 4 
		
	
	 Letter from Sarah Glasspool, dated 14 October 2009:
	The National Measurement Office does not currently record company information as to whether they are SME's therefore it would take a disproportionate amount of time to obtain the information required for this PQ.
	 Letter from Gareth Jones:
	I am replying on behalf of Companies House to your Parliamentary Question tabled on 12 October 2009, UIN 293247, to the Minister of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The percentage of procurement contracts awarded to small businesses by Companies House was as follows:-
	
		
			   Percentage 
			 2006-07 30.4 
			 2007-08 31.9 
			 2008-09 33.4 
			 2009-10 33.2 
		
	
	 Letter from Ian Fletcher, dated 15 October 2009:
	I am responding on behalf of the Intellectual Property Office to your Parliamentary Question tabled 12 October 2009, to the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	The percentage of procurement contracts awarded to small businesses by the Intellectual Property Office is (i) 2006-07: 69%, (ii) 2007-08: 67%, (iii) 2008-09: 60%, and (iv) 2009-10: 46%
	 Letter from Stephen Speed:
	The Minister of State, for the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) has asked me to reply to you directly in respect of your question, what percentage of procurement contracts (a) his Department and its predecessors and (b) its agencies awarded to small businesses in (i) 2006-07, (ii) 2007-08, (iii) 2008-09 and (iv) 2009-10; and if he will make a statement.
	The Insolvency Service awarded the following percentage of procurement contracts to small businesses in each of the following financial years:
	
		
			   Percentage  Contracts awarded  To SMEs 
			 (1) 2006-07 50 10 5 
			 (2) 2007-08 80 10 8 
			 (3) 2008-09 59 17 10 
			 (4) 2009-10 (to date) 67 6 4

Digital Broadcasting: Birmingham

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of  (a) households and  (b) businesses in Birmingham Sparkbrook and Small Heath constituency which will be liable for payment of the levy proposed in the Digital Britain White Paper.

Stephen Timms: This Department has made no specific estimate of the number of  (a) households and  (b) businesses in Birmingham Sparkbrook and Small Heath liable for payment of the levy proposed in the Digital Britain White Paper.
	Ofcom estimates that there are 1,145,411 fixed lines in the West Midlands area. Ofcom does not have estimates for Birmingham Sparkbrook and Small Heath. We recognise that those on the lowest incomes might have difficulty paying the fixed line levy and that is why we have confirmed that those on social telephony schemes will be exempt. The social telephony schemes are available to those on income support, income-based job seeker's allowance, employment support allowance (income rated) or guaranteed pensions credit.

Entry Clearances: Students

David Evennett: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills when he last met the Minister of State for Borders and Immigration to discuss student visas.

David Lammy: On 20 July I hosted a roundtable meeting with my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Borders and Immigration and a group of university vice chancellors to discuss migration issues and higher education, including student visas. As a result of that meeting UKBA stepped up their preparations for dealing with the summer surge of applications from international students.

Export Credit Guarantees: Nigeria

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whether the Export Credits Guarantee Department has requested information from  (a) MW Kellogg Limited and  (b) Halliburton regarding Mr Jeffrey Tesler in connection with the LNG Plant at Bonny Island in Nigeria.

Ian Lucas: ECGD has not made any such requests as it is not an investigatory body and, as the SFO is already conducting its own investigation into the Bonny Island project, it would not have been appropriate for ECGD to pursue inquiries of its own.

High Pay Commission

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will establish a high pay commission.

Patrick McFadden: There are no plans to do so.

Higher Education

David Evennett: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many higher education institutions have applied to be able to use the title of university since 2004.

David Lammy: Since 1 January 2004, there have been 19 applications from higher education institutions for university title. Of these 19 applications, 18 were successful.

Higher Education: Admissions

Anne Main: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many people aged  (a) 21 years and under and  (b) over 21 years old in each socio-economic group resident in (i) St. Albans constituency, (ii) Hertfordshire, (iii) the East of England and (iv) England attended university in each of the last five years.

David Lammy: The latest available information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency is shown in tables 1 to 4. The figures are shown for full-time undergraduate entrants as socio-economic class (SEC) information is not available for part-time higher education students. Figures are provided for entrants aged under 21, and 21 and over as the socio-economic class data have a different basis for these two distinct age groups. Socio-economic class is based on occupation information: those aged under 21 provide their parent's occupation, and those aged 21 and over provide their own occupation.
	
		
			  Table 1: Full-time undergraduate entrants from St. Albans parliamentary constituency( 1) , UK higher education institutions( 2) ,  academic years  2003/04 to 2007/08 
			   2003/04  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07  2007/08 
			  Socio-economic classification  Under 21  21 and over  Under 21  21 and over  Under 21  21 and over  Under 21  21 and over  Under 21  21 and over 
			 Higher managerial and professional occupations 150 10 180 10 150 10 160 5 160 10 
			 Lower managerial and professional occupations 140 5 165 15 165 15 155 15 165 10 
			 Intermediate occupations 60 15 65 10 60 10 65 5 55 5 
			 Small employers and own account workers 35 5 25 5 15 0 30 5 25 5 
			 Lower supervisory and technical occupations 10 0 20 0 10 0 10 0 10 0 
			 Semi-routine occupations 25 10 40 5 30 10 40 10 30 10 
			 Routine occupations 10 5 15 5 10 0 10 0 10 5 
			 Missing(3) 65 85 80 85 150 85 95 55 110 105 
			 (1) The table does not include entrants whose constituency cannot be established due to missing or invalid home postcodes. (2) Excludes the Open university due to inconsistencies in their coding of entrants across the time series. (3) Includes those classified as Never worked and long-term unemployed, Not classified and Missing.  Note: Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded to the nearest five.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Full-time undergraduate entrants from Hertfordshire local authority( 1) ,  UK higher education institutions( 2) ,  a cademic years 2003/04 to 2007/08 
			   2003/04  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07  2007/08 
			  Socio - economic classification  Under 21  21 and over  Under 21  21 and over  Under 21  21 and over  Under 21  21 and over  Under 21  21 and over 
			 Higher managerial and professional occupations 1,710 80 1,550 70 1,500 75 1,430 50 1,575 65 
			 Lower managerial and professional occupations 1,860 110 1,535 150 1,495 135 1,485 120 1,585 115 
			 Intermediate occupations 835 130 675 110 700 110 705 75 675 85 
			 Small employers and own account workers 405 20 300 30 300 20 315 25 335 35 
			 Lower supervisory and technical occupations 265 10 215 15 190 10 195 20 190 20 
			 Semi-routine occupations 560 105 385 85 425 120 405 80 420 115 
			 Routine occupations 225 40 140 30 155 40 170 35 155 35 
			 Missing(3) 1,105 920 915 915 1,375 935 1,030 815 1,140 955 
			 (1) The table does not include entrants whose local authority cannot be established due to missing or invalid home postcodes. (2) Excludes the Open university due to inconsistencies in their coding of entrants across the time series. (3) Includes those classified as Never worked and long-term unemployed, Not classified and Missing.  Note: Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded to the nearest five.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Full-time undergraduate entrants from East of England Government office region( 1) , UK higher education institutions( 2) , academic years 2003/04 to 2007/08 
			   2003/04  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07  2007/08 
			  Socioeconomic classification  Under 21  21  over  Under 21  21  over  Under 21  21  over  Under 21  21  over  Under 21  21  over 
			 Higher managerial and professional occupations 4,230 225 5,375 265 5,470 275 5,230 245 6,040 165 
			 Lower managerial and professional occupations 5,970 715 6,110 535 6,305 635 6,050 575 6,905 530 
			 Intermediate occupations 2,195 575 2,510 480 2,735 500 2,515 400 2,850 400 
			 Small employers and own account workers 1,370 135 1,360 105 1,460 120 1,425 105 1,615 95 
			 Lower supervisory and technical occupations 1,115 90 885 85 925 75 930 70 1,090 60 
			 Semi-routine occupations 2,280 745 1,700 440 1,905 595 1,845 500 2,165 575 
			 Routine occupations 1,375 280 745 130 765 180 875 185 985 190 
			 Missing(3) 5,285 5,545 4,495 4,780 5,315 4,580 4,805 4,245 6,010 4,090 
			 (1 )The table does not include entrants whose Government office region cannot be established due to missing or invalid home postcodes. (2 )Excludes the Open university due to inconsistencies in their coding of entrants across the time series. (3 )Includes those classified as Never worked and long-term unemployed, Not classified and Missing.  Note: Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded to the nearest five.  Source:  Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 4 : Full-time undergraduate entrants from  England , UK higher education institutions( 1) ,  academic years  2003/04 to 2007/08 
			   2003/04  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07  2007/08 
			  Socio-economic classification  Under 21  21 and over  Under 21  21 and over  Under 21  21 and over  Under 21  21 and over  Under 21  21 and over 
			 Higher managerial and professional occupations 44,480 2,640 44,595 2,535 44,810 2,880 43,680 2,575 47,520 2,705 
			 Lower managerial and professional occupations 55,740 7,195 57,350 7,190 58,620 8,170 56,160 6,960 58,810 7,480 
			 Intermediate occupations 23,775 6,335 24,360 6,000 25,175 6,635 23,935 5,335 25,155 6,235 
			 Small employers and own account workers 12,860 1,370 13,025 1,290 13,515 1,605 13,795 1,355 14,425 1,535 
			 Lower supervisory and technical occupations 9,110 850 8,750 825 9,355 1,025 9,005 865 9,275 1,055 
			 Semi-routine occupations 18,965 6,720 19,050 6,465 21,040 7,615 20,715 6,955 22,390 8,520 
			 Routine occupations 8,775 2,190 8,630 2,055 9,365 2,480 9,665 2,495 10,080 2,935 
			 Missing(2) 46,340 55,520 48,345 56,360 59,260 54,265 53,470 52,095 54,520 54,100 
			 (1) Excludes the Open university due to inconsistencies in their coding of entrants across the time series. (2) Includes those classified as Never worked and long-term unemployed, Not classified and Missing.  Note: Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded to the nearest five.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

Higher Education: Birmingham

Richard Burden: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many school students from Birmingham, Northfield constituency entered higher education in each of the last 10 years.

David Lammy: It is not possible to identify whether entrants to higher education from Birmingham, Northfield constituency attended schools or further education colleges. The numbers of 18 and 19-year-old undergraduate entrants to UK Higher Education Institutions from Birmingham, Northfield constituency are given as an alternative in the table.
	Undergraduate entrants from Birmingham, Northfield constituency are defined by full and valid home post codes recorded for the student in the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student record. Some of these students, although resident in Birmingham, Northfield, may not have attended schools in Birmingham, Northfield constituency.
	Figures for the 2008/09 academic year will be available from HESA in January 2010.
	
		
			  18 and 19-year-old undergraduate entrants( 1)  from Birmingham, Northfield constituency( 2)  UK higher education institutions( 3) -academic years 1998/99 to 2007/08 
			  Academic year  18-year-old entrants  19-year-old entrants 
			 1998/99 95 40 
			 1999/2000 130 70 
			 2000/01 140 60 
			 2001/02 155 50 
			 2002/03 155 70 
			 2003/04 165 70 
			 2004/05 145 45 
			 2005/06 180 85 
			 2006/07 160 75 
			 2007/08 155 80 
			 (1) Covers entrants to full-time and part-time courses. (2) The figures in the answer do not include entrants where the constituency of the student cannot be established due to missing or invalid information. (3) Excludes the Open university due to inconsistencies in their coding of entrants across the time series.  Note: Figures are based on a snapshot as at 1 December and have been rounded to the nearest five.  Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

Israel: Natural Gas

Chris Mullin: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent representations he has received regarding a proposed agreement between the Israel Electric Corporation and British Gas to purchase gas from the Gaza Marine field; and if he will make a statement.

Ian Lucas: Ministers from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) have received no recent representations on a proposed agreement between the Israel Electric Corporation and BG Group to purchase gas from the Gaza Marine field.

Members: Correspondence

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to reply to Question 291983, on broadband and the BT network, tabled on 9 October 2009.

Stephen Timms: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on Thursday 29 October,  Official Report, column reference 541W.

Motor Vehicles: Government Assistance

Vincent Cable: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many  (a) cars and  (b) vans purchased under the vehicle scrappage scheme were (i) manufactured in the UK and (ii) imported.

Ian Lucas: Full data will not be available until the end of the scheme, as details of new vehicles purchased, and whether they are vans or cars, are not available until transactions are completed. Further analysis will also be required at the end of the scheme as certain models are both imported and manufactured in the UK.
	In 2008, 86 per cent. of vehicles sold in the UK were imported. However, the global automotive supply chain is highly integrated and many imported cars will have a significant UK content in terms of components, for example, we understand 90 per cent. of Ford vehicles sold under the scrappage scheme have engines made in the UK.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Jessica Morden: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many cars had been purchased under the car scrappage scheme in  (a) Newport East constituency and  (b) Wales on the latest date for which figures are available.

Ian Lucas: Using data based on the locations of dealerships and data for scrappage transactions which have been completed and vehicles delivered, there have been 357 completed scrappage transactions in Newport, East and 7,934 in Wales.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

John Battle: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many cars had been purchased under the car scrappage scheme in  (a) Leeds and  (b) West Yorkshire at the latest date for which figures are available.

Patrick McFadden: Using data based on the locations of dealerships and data for scrappage transactions which have been completed and vehicles delivered, there have been 1,109 completed scrappage transactions in Leeds and 4,135 in West Yorkshire.

Motor Vehicles: Manufacturing Industries

Vincent Cable: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many cars have been purchased under the scrappage scheme in  (a) London,  (b) Richmond-upon-Thames and  (c) Twickenham constituency.

Ian Lucas: Using data based on the locations of dealerships and data for scrappage transactions which have been completed and vehicles delivered, there have been 13,729 completed scrappage transactions in London including 418 in the London borough of Richmond which were all in the Twickenham constituency.

Musical Instruments: Manufacturing Industries

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what his Department's policy is on supporting UK manufacturers of musical instruments.

Ian Lucas: There is no specific support for UK manufacturers of musical instruments. However, the Government have an extensive programme of support for manufacturing through Business Link, particularly through the Manufacturing Advisory Service and the Real Help for Business package that was launched in January 2009.
	Both can be accessed at:
	http://www.businesslink.gov.uk

National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts: Finance

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the Answer of 20 October 2009,  Official Report, column 1433W, on public bodies: finance, what the return profit from the portfolio of investments in companies and loans held by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts, known as NESTA Investments, was in each year since 1998.

David Lammy: NESTA's early stage investment activity was launched as a fully commercial operation in March 2007 under the name of NESTA Investments. Prior to this, investment activity was not fully commercial in remit and consisted of a mixture of grants, interest-free loans and other instruments.
	Since the formation of NESTA Investments, the profits on disposal of investments to third parties held in the NESTA Investment portfolio were £278,000 in 2007-08 and £133,000 in 2008-09.
	I have been advised by NESTA that NESTA Investments is expected to realise the value of its portfolio over the next five to seven years. This time frame is the average period that seed funds operating in this field tend to hold their investments, before realisation.

Overseas Trade: Afghanistan

Roberta Blackman-Woods: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to encourage trade and investment between the UK and Afghanistan.

Ian Lucas: UK Trade and Investment has no presence in Afghanistan and does not proactively support UK companies in this market. However, lobbying on behalf of British companies may be carried out on a case-by-case basis by the British embassy in Kabul.

Parental Leave: Birmingham

Roger Godsiff: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of people in Birmingham Sparkbrook and Small Heath constituency who took  (a) paternity and  (b) maternity leave in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Patrick McFadden: The most recent estimates of take-up of maternity leave are based on Maternity Rights and Mother's Employment Decisions (published 2007). The survey is based on a random sample of mothers who had a baby between February and May 2006.
	Of mothers in paid work, all took at least some of their entitlement to maternity leave.
	Up-to-date estimates of fathers taking paternity leave are from the Maternity and Paternity Rights and Benefits in Britain: Survey of Parents, conducted in 2005. 93 per cent of fathers took some time off around the time of the birth. Of the 93 per cent. who took some time off, 79 per cent. took paternity leave (The survey is based on a random sample of mothers who had a baby in December 2003 and their partners).
	The Department does not collect data on take-up of maternity and paternity leave at constituency level.

Rover Group: Serious Fraud Office

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills when the team investigating the collapse of MG Rover first notified the Government that there were sufficient grounds for referral to the Serious Fraud Office.

Ian Lucas: The inspectors kept the Department informed of the areas of concern and the potential misconduct that they uncovered during the course of the inspection. They did not consider that there were specific issues that needed to be referred to the Serious Fraud Office during the inspection.
	However, when the final report was delivered it was clear that, when read in its entirety, it raised serious questions as to criminality. In particular, the inspectors found that members of the Phoenix Consortium obtained unreasonably large financial rewards and that they undertook a number of transactions to allocate assets to companies in the group other than MG Rover Group and in which MGRG had no interest. The Secretary of State considered that it was important to establish whether a criminal investigation into possible criminal conduct was appropriate before publication of the report. Given the Serious Fraud Office's responsibility for dealing with allegations of this type it was appropriate to refer the matter to them for their consideration.

Royal Mail: Communications Workers Union

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much the Communication Workers Union has received from Royal Mail in each of the last 10 financial years.

Patrick McFadden: Any arrangements between the CWU and Royal Mail (for example, on facility time for CWU representatives) are a matter for Royal Mail management. I have therefore asked the chief executive of Royal Mail, Adam Crozier, to provide a direct reply to the hon. Member.
	A copy of the response will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Royal Mail: Industrial Disputes

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate has been made of the revenue Royal Mail lost as a result of industrial action  (a) in 2007 and  (b) between January and October 2009.

Patrick McFadden: Estimates of revenue loss due to industrial action are a matter for Royal Mail. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive of Royal Mail, Adam Crozier, to provide a direct reply to the hon. Member.
	A copy of the response will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Royal Mail: Industrial Disputes

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 21 July 2009,  Official Report, column 1527W, on Royal Mail: industrial disputes, how many working days the Royal Mail lost as a result of industrial action on  (a) 22 to 23 October 2009 and  (b) 29 to 31 October 2009.

Patrick McFadden: Estimating the number of days lost due to the recent industrial action is an operational matter for Royal Mail. I have therefore asked the chief executive of Royal Mail, Adam Crozier, to provide a direct reply to the hon. Member.
	A copy of the response will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Students: Disabled

David Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students in each region have received disabled students' allowance in each year since its introduction.

David Lammy: As part of widening participation, the Government give generous financial support to disabled students in higher education. Disabled students' allowances (DSAs) are available to help with the extra costs students may incur on their course as a direct result of a disability, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty. DSAs are paid in addition to the standard student support package; they are not means tested and do not have to be repaid.
	In 2009/10 eligible undergraduate students may receive the following:
	
		
			  Allowance  Maximum payable to eligible full-time undergraduates (£)  Maximum payable to eligible part-time undergraduates (£) 
			 Specialist equipment allowance (for the duration of the course) 5,161 5,161 
			 Non-medical helper allowance 20,520 15,390 
			 General allowance 1,724 1,293 
			 Travel allowance Unlimited Unlimited 
		
	
	For postgraduate students (full or part-time) there is one allowance to meet all costs, up to £10,260 in 2009/10.
	Information on DSA by region is set out in the following table
	
		
			  Recipients of disabled student allowances by academic year and region( 1) 
			  Thousand 
			  Region of recipients latest home postcode( 2)  2004/05  2005/06  2006/07  2007/08( 3) 
			 East Midlands 2.1 2.4 2.7 2.9 
			 East of England 2.7 2.9 3.3 3.5 
			 London 5.6 5.8 6.1 6.2 
			 North East 0.9 1.0 1.0 1.1 
			 North West 3.4 3.9 4.3 4.7 
			 South East 5.5 6.2 6.4 6.9 
			 South West 3.9 4.3 4.5 4.8 
			 West Midlands 2.6 2.8 3.2 3.5 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 2.2 2.5 2.7 2.9 
			 Scotland 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 
			 Wales 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 
			 Unknown(4) 3.1 3.4 3.6 3.8 
			 Total England domiciled at time of application 32.3 35.6 38.2 40.7 
			 (1) DSA claims can be made retrospectively against earlier academic years. Table shows data at 31 March 2009. (2) The table covers students who were domiciled in England at the time of their first application for student support. The region shown relates to the postcode of the latest home address held by SLC, which may be the recipients address after leaving university. Some recipients from England have subsequently moved to Scotland or Wales. (3) Provisional. (4) Unknown covers those with missing or invalid postcode information, and English domiciled recipients who subsequently moved abroad. Consistent data are not available before academic year 2004/05.  Source: Student Loans Company (SLC)

Students: Disabled

David Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much has been spent on disabled students' allowance in each year since its introduction.

David Lammy: As part of widening participation, the Government give generous financial support to disabled students in higher education. Disabled students' allowances (DSAs) are available to help with the extra costs students may incur on their course as a direct result of a disability, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty. DSAs are paid in addition to the standard student support package; they are not means tested and do not have to be repaid.

Students: Finance

Richard Spring: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many and what proportion of students from Suffolk were receiving non-repayable maintenance grants from Suffolk local education authority in each of the last five years; and what average grant was received.

David Lammy: The information is as follows:
	
		
			  Students awarded grants in Suffolk( 1) 
			  Academic year  Number of students awarded grants  Average Amount awarded (£)  Students awarded grants as a percentage of all those awarded some form of support 
			 2004/05 1,170 1,140 13 
			 2005/06 2,040 1,060 22 
			 2006/07 3,520 1,640 36 
			 2007/08 4,430 1,840 43 
			 2008/09 (provisional)(2) 5,460 2,170 54 
			 (1) Figures cover the higher education grant, the maintenance grant and grants and allowances for children and dependents. (2) Provisional 2008/09 data at mid-November 2008. Figures may change as later applications are processed.  Source: Student Loans Company 
		
	
	Grant figures in the tables cover the higher education grant, introduced in 2004, the maintenance grant, phased in from 2006, and grants and allowances for children and dependents. Different amounts are available for each type of grant. Figures contain students in each year of their courses. The amount a student receives depends on household income, year of entry to higher education and personal circumstances.

Students: Loans

David Willetts: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of applications for support from the Student Loans Company for 2009-10 have been processed;
	(2)  how many applications for maintenance support had been made to the Student Loans Company before the start of the 2009-10 academic year; and how many such applicants have been granted  (a) no more than and  (b) more than the minimum level;
	(3)  how many applications  (a) to the Student Loans Company for financial support and  (b) to higher education institutions to follow courses there were for the academic year (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The Student Loans Company has released figures to show the levels of processing and payment of Student Support in England for the 2009/10 academic year.
	The releases will include the following information:
	Total applications received
	Applications approved
	Applications currently being processed
	Ineligible/withdrawn applications
	Applications started online but not completed
	Further information required from student/sponsors
	Students receiving first maintenance payment.
	The first release of this information was on Tuesday 27 October 2009, and this covered the processing and payment up to and including 18 October 2009. This will be followed by a further two updates at weekly intervals. The information is being made available on the Student Loans Company website.
	According to information from UCAS, in 2008/09, the number of English-domiciled accepted applicants to full-time undergraduate courses in England was 330,400. The equivalent final figure for 2009/10 is not yet available, but by 14 October 2009 the total had reached 344,508.

UK Trade and Investment

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many complaints received by UK Trade and Investment were responded to  (a) within one to 10 days,  (b) within 11 to 15 days,  (c) within 16 to 20 days and  (d) more than 21 days after receipt in each of the last four years.

Ian Lucas: UKTI does not hold this information and to gather these details would be at disproportionate cost.
	There are over 160 UKTI locations around the world and a complaint can be initiated at any of these points of access. Almost without exception, complaints are dealt with at a local level by our frontline staff without the need to escalate the matter with a referral to the corporate centre.

UK Trade and Investment

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many UK Trade and Investment employees have taken time off work as a result of diagnosed stress in each of the last five years.

Ian Lucas: The number of staff in UKTI (London and Glasgow) who took certified sick leave due to anxiety/stress/depression/other psychiatric illness in each of the last five years are as follows:
	
		
			   Number of staff 
			 2004 9 
			 2005 8 
			 2006 10 
			 2007 6 
			 2008 7 
		
	
	It is not possible to identify staff who suffered from stress alone.

UK Trade and Investment

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many companies who received assistance from UK Trade and Investment in 2008-09 also received assistance from a regional development agency in the same period.

Ian Lucas: UKTI does not hold these figures. UKTI acts as the trade arm for the regional development agencies (RDAs), providing trade services for companies. Where companies have been helped by both UKTI and the RDAs, it will be on separate forms of business support.

UK Trade and Investment

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what  (a) accommodation and  (b) staff costs his Department incurred in relation to UK Trade and Investment employees based overseas in 2008.

Ian Lucas: Overseas accommodation and staffing costs are borne by our parent Departments, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. As part of the end-of year internal cost attribution process, the FCO does produce an estimated cost for overseas expenditure in these categories.
	In 2008-09 the following costs were attributed to UKTI and are recorded in the UK Trade and Investment Departmental Report and Resource Accounts 2008-09, published 20 July and as presented to the House of Commons. ISBN: 9 78 010296 1706.
	 (a) £24.598 million
	 (b) £51.4 million.

UK Trade and Investment

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what  (a) accommodation and  (b) staff costs his Department incurred in relation to employees based at UK Trade and Investment headquarters in 2008.

Ian Lucas: The costs of UKTI accommodation costs in the UK (London and Glasgow) are primarily funded through BIS administration and those costs are publicly available in the UK Trade and Investment departmental report and resource accounts 2008-09, at pages 116 and 115 respectively, published 20 July and as presented to the House of Commons. ISBN: 9 78 010296 1706. This includes the cost for delivery teams that are co-located with HQ functions in London and Glasgow.

UK Trade and Investment

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many UK Trade and Investment staff were based in each region in each of the last four years.

Ian Lucas: People working for UKTI are either employees of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or from the private sector. In the English regions there are 108 civil servants, with the majority of staff being employed by private sector organisations. The following table sets out the number of people working on behalf of UKTI in each region:
	
		
			   2006 (November)  2007 (October)  2008 (October)  2009 (June) 
			 East of England 44 46 42 39 
			 East Midlands 37 42 43 41 
			 London 38 39 44 45 
			 North East 31 39 39 34 
			 North West 41 49 43 40 
			 South East 70 64 61 61 
			 South West 36 44 43 43 
			 West Midlands 53 58 58 52 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 37 42 42 44 
			 Total 387 423 415 399

UK Trade and Investment

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills which companies in each region received assistance from UK Trade and Investment in each of the last four years.

Ian Lucas: UKTI collects information on services delivered through the UKTI Performance and Impact Monitoring survey, available at:
	www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk/ukti/pims
	However, this information is provided in confidence and the disclosure at the level of individual companies would constitute a breach of confidence actionable by that or any other person.

UK Trade and Investment

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what expenditure has been incurred on marketing UK Trade and Investment in each of the last four years.

Ian Lucas: Marketing of UK Trade and Investment is an integrated part of the promotion of exporting/trade development or marketing of the UK, not a separate function. UKTI Marketing Group programme spend over the last four years:
	
		
			   £ Million 
			 2008-09 10 
			 2007-08 9.1 
			 2006-07 9.8 
			 2005-06 9.7 
		
	
	This represents programme expenditure by UKTI's Marketing Group only and does not represent UKTI's total expenditure on marketing the UK and UKTI's services. Additional expenditure is spread across UKTI's groups to varying degrees over the four year period.
	 Note:
	These figures include spend on activity in the UK and overseas, the latter predominantly, though not exclusively, being activity to help achieve foreign direct investment targets. It also includes spend on developing the sector marketing strategies.

UK Trade and Investment

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment has been made of UK Trade and Investment's performance against its targets for attracting  (a) high value,  (b) good quality and  (c) priority projects in each of the last four years.

Ian Lucas: Foreign direct investment targets according to  (a) high value,  (b) good quality and  (c) priority project classifications have only been used for the last two years. Previously, UKTI has benchmarked against knowledge driven targets.
	Targets for 2007-08 to 2009-10 and outturn for 2007-08 and 2008-09 are as follows:
	
		
			   Target 2007-08 to 2009-10  Outturn 2007-08  Outturn 2008-09 
			 (a) High Value 125 182 262 
			 (b) Good Quality 285 255 244 
			 (c) RDA Priority 115 112 94 
			 Totals 525 549 600

UK Trade and Investment

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much was spent on  (a) car hire,  (b) train travel,  (c) air travel,  (d) hotels and  (e) restaurants by UK Trade and Investment in each of the last four years.

Ian Lucas: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) does not directly employ staff but draws on resource from its two parent Departments, the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). UKTI has offices in 98 different countries, the nine English regions, London and Glasgow.
	UKTI holds financial information on travel costs at the aggregate level centrally whilst detailed information is held locally. To provide the information requested would require obtaining detailed information from each location and therefore can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

UK Trade and Investment

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much was spent on  (a) standard,  (b) business and  (c) first class air travel by UK Trade and Investment in each of the last four years.

Ian Lucas: UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) does not directly employ staff but draws on resource from its two parent Departments, the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). UKTI has offices in 98 different countries, the nine English regions, London and Glasgow.
	UKTI holds financial information on travel costs at the aggregate level centrally whilst detailed information is held locally. To provide the information requested would require obtaining detailed information from each location and therefore can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

UK Trade and Investment

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much financial assistance UK Trade and Investment provided to businesses in the defence sector  (a) in total and  (b) as a proportion of the financial assistance provided to all businesses in each of the last four years.

Ian Lucas: On the 1 April 2008 responsibility for defence trade promotion transferred from the Ministry of Defence to UK Trade and Investment (UKTI). The cost of defence trade promotion is jointly borne by UKTI, the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
	As set out in UKTI's Departmental Report and Resource Accounts 2008-09, total expenditure was £323.2 million. Of this £301.6 million (93.3 per cent.) was spent in supporting businesses not from the defence and security sector, leaving £21.6 million (6.7 per cent) on businesses in the defence and security sector. Figures prior to 2008-09 are not available on a comparable basis and can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

UK Trade and Investment

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much UK Trade and Investment spent on consultants and other external advice in each of the last four years.

Ian Lucas: This information is only held for the previous three years. It is publicly available in the UK Trade and Investment Departmental Report and Resource Accounts 2008-09, published 20 July 2009 and as presented to the House of Commons. ISBN: 9 78 010296 1706 and in the corresponding publication of the previous year that gives figures for both 2006-07 and 2007-08.

UK Trade and Investment

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many employees of UK Trade and Investment attended the Beijing Olympics in July 2008 in an official capacity.

Ian Lucas: No UKTI employees attended the Beijing Games in July 2008 in an official capacity.

UK Trade and Investment: Complaints

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how many complaints were received by UK Trade and Investment in each of the last four years.

Ian Lucas: holding answer 22 October 2009
	This information is publicly available at Annex D of the UK Trade and Investment Departmental Report and Resource Accounts 2008-09, published 20 July and as presented to the House of Commons. ISBN: 9 78 010296 1706 and, for previous years, in the corresponding publications of the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (previously the Department of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

UK Trade and Investment: Complaints

Lorely Burt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what targets for responding to complaints were adopted by UK Trade and Investment in each of the last four years.

Ian Lucas: holding answer 22 October 2009
	This information is publicly available at Annex D of the UK Trade and Investment Departmental Report and Resource Accounts 2008-09, published 20 July and as presented to the House of Commons. ISBN: 9 78 010296 1706 and, for previous years, in the corresponding publications of the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (previously the Department of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.